February 9, 1935 – March 4, 2022

Susie Jane Etter Westphal, 87, of Friendswood, Texas, peacefully passed away on March 4, 2022 after a lengthy illness.

Susie was born February 9, 1935 to Merle and Earl Etter in Phoenix, Arizona. Her father signaled the doctor with a handkerchief out the window to come to the family home when her delivery was imminent. The Etters moved to California during Susie’s early childhood, and she had fond memories of life there playing with her many cousins. At the age of 9, Susie became a big sister to Earl Jr. The Etters loved to travel, and much time was spent seeing the sites, camping, or visiting with family scattered throughout the United States.

Susie and her family settled in Corpus Christi, Texas when her father decided to move closer to her namesake, grandmother, Susie Jane Etter. Susie made many lifelong friends through school and church including her future husband, David Hezekiah Waldrop. Susie graduated from W.B. Ray High School in 1953 and promptly married her true love to begin life as a Navy sailor’s wife where David was stationed in Bremerton, Washington and San Diego, California. After David’s discharge they moved back to Corpus Christi.

Susie and David had two children, Terry Lynn and Kenneth David. In 1966, after David was killed in an oil field accident, Susie moved the family to the old McClure farmhouse in Friendswood. Susie fell in love with that old home and owned it for over 50 years. Susie lived a short time in Alabama, Tennessee, and South Carolina, but she always came back to what she considered “home”: Friendswood. Susie had a love for all things “old” and collected antiques. She had a shop where she sold things in her collection.

Susie was involved in the Friendswood community through Welcome Wagon, the Friendswood Historical Society, City of Friendswood Community Appearance Board, the Senior Center, and 4-H. Susie was a real estate broker, bookkeeper for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and salesperson for various companies. Susie had a gift for gab and could talk to anyone about anything. She loved supporting her children in their activities, including many horse shows and rodeos and she even became an avid trail rider for a time. She loved to line dance, Zumba, square dance and clog. She dabbled in writing poetry and short stories and was a literary agent promoting her mother’s book.

Susie’s mother, Merle came to live with her after Earl passed away and the pair were inseparable buddies traveling across the country doing genealogy research. In 2017, with much regret due to health issues, Susie sold her beloved Friendswood home and moved to be near family. But in 2019 she was called to move back to Friendswood and lived in The Beldon apartments, just a short distance away from her old house. Susie would regularly go by Melody Lane to see the home place and admire the work that was done since it was restored and moved to the back of the property.

Susie is survived by her daughter and son in law, Terry and Rollin Giltner; her son, Kenneth Waldrop, her brother, Earl Etter, granddaughter, Lara and husband Lane DeHaven, grandson Glenn Holliday and wife Marisa, great grandchildren, Clayton and Nicole Holliday, Kyla and Dylan Sharp, Carter Vezurk, Jacob and Samantha DeHaven, Isaac DeHaven, Andrew DeHaven, William Holliday, Adriana Holliday; and nephews, Chris and Corey Etter.

A Memorial service will be held on March 12, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546 (281) 992-7200 with Rev. Glenda McDonald officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Friendswood Historical Society, PO Box 474, Friendswood, Texas 77549 (281).

Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Jeter Memorial Funeral Home at www.jeterfuneralhome.com.