Susan Jane Sheldrake , 71, of Kirkland, WA was born December 19, 1950 in Washington, D.C. to Colonel Thomas and Jane Sheldrake and passed away July 9, 2022.
She is survived by two brothers, Michael Sheldrake of Port Angeles WA; a sister-in-law Sharel of Auburn, WA and Stephen (Julianna) Sheldrake of Eagle Mountain, UT and “Auntie” 10 6 nieces and nephews in WA, UT, WY and TX.. A graduate of Sammamish High School and long-time resident of Bellevue, WA, she attended the University of Washington where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
A multilinguist, Susan was fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and Japanese. She lived and worked abroad in the hospitality/hotel business in Taiwan and in Tokyo, Japan, teaching ESL to the children of Japanese businessmen and has many friends from Japan. Susan eventually settled back home to work for a Japanese shipping line, Sanko, out of Seattle as an executive assistant. In Merida, Yucatan where she lived abroad and was befriended by a Mayan family, she would lose the love of her life, a young man involved in a fatal car accident.
Susan was an avid gardener specializing in the 100 varieties of Irises. For many years she entered and won ribbons in the King County Iris Society for her U of W (purple and gold) bearded Irises. A true “Huskie,” Susan’s blood ran “purple” and she often spoke and taught to all those interested in learning about bulbs and perennials. A truly “green-thumb” gardener, she would gladly divide her bulbs to any interested in planting. Susan is known for her annual Christmas Cookie Exchange and for her passion as an animal rights activist.
Susan was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lake Hills Ward. A graveside memorial will be held October 1st at 12:30 PM at the Sunset Hills Memorial Cemetery in Bellevue, Washington.
“I am the resurrection and the life … he who believes in me will never die .. “
John 11: 25-26
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.