In Memory

Susan Henry (English Teacher)

SUSAN MARY EVENSON HENRY


April 19, 1946 ~ September 7, 2000


Sheridan’s beloved teacher and artist Sue Henry passed away peacefully in the home she loved on September 7, 2000. In her last months she waswrapped in the love of many loyal friends, colleagues and family, who called, visited, wrote, and shared food, time, memories and love with her.

Sue was a baby-boomer, born in South St. Paul, Minnesota to Marvin and Donna Evenson. In 1949 the family
moved to Moorhead, Minnesota where Sue attended grade school and loved playing with her kitten Fluffy and
riding the shiny blue bike she received for her seventh birthday. She moved several times in Moorhead,
always charming the neighborhood and making friends with her openness and candor. Sue attended Moorhead High School, graduating in 1964. During her years in high school Sue was active in a number of ways, including serving as the president of the drama club and as the secretary of the senior class. After high school, Sue attended Moorhead State University, graduating in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech and Theater and a minor in Art. In college Sue mastered technical theater while working with the Straw Hat Players, a summer performance company, and was also training to become a costume designer. During that time she also married Gerry Henry and had two daughters, Jessica and Sarah. In 1971 she earned her Master of Arts degree in Speech and Theater, with a minor in Clothing and Textiles, from North Dakota State University, where she also taught speech and helped with the plays.

Sue moved to Sheridan in 1975 to teach speech and theater at Sheridan High School. During her 25 years of teaching, she directed more than 45 plays, musicals, madrigal dinners, and student-faculty follies, including favorites such as My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof, and recently The Sound of Music. In addition to directing the high school plays, Sue was also active in theater with the Sheridan Civic Theater Guild. She directed, provided technical support, and acted in a number of plays, including Chicago, Boys on the Side, and South
Pacific. One of Sue’s greatest joys was being an artist. Captured in oil, acrylic, and watercolor, her images were variously intriguing, outrageous, full of character, and provocative. She preferred bright colors and contrast to pastels and soft tones. Sue was a member of the “Paint Marks,” a Sheridan society of artists and was awarded Signature status by the Wyoming Watercolor Society (WYWS) in 1995. Her work was accepted at many juried shows and she won many awards at area and regional exhibitions. Sue had said that “I
firmly believe that art should be fun! I come from the school of: If you’re going to create—do it with gusto!”

Sue was preceded in death by her mother Donna, uncles Harlan, Leland, and Bud, aunt Lillian, and friend Phil. She is survived by her father, Marvin A. Evenson, Bismarck, ND, two daughters, Jessica
Henry and spouse John Perlich, Hastings, NE, and Sarah Henry and special friend Rustan Bradshaw, Henderson, NV; two sisters, Kay (Dave) Gast, Bismark, ND; and Pamela Evenson, Sioux Falls, SD;
one brother, Edwin “Kent” (Delores) Evenson, Orlando, FL; nieces Anne (Jeff) Toy, Laurie (Dean) McKenzie, Lisa (Bruce) Pettingill; and nephews Daniel Gast, Daniel Evenson, and Ron Permann.

Funeral services will be held at the Sheridan High School auditorium at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, 2000, with Father David Duprey officiating. Following cremation a private family ceremony will be held at an unmarked site in the foothills of the Big Horn Mountains, near the spot where many of Sue’s colorful oil
paintings originated and where she happily painted this summer with friends and family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be designated to the Sue Henry Memorial Fine Arts Scholarship, care of Delphine Toner at First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.

Sue said she knew she was loved. Sheridan was a wonderful place for her to live. We know that she lives now where love is greater still. We shall miss her terribly as she walks with Degas, Van Gogh, and Rembrandt.



 
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11/14/12 05:27 AM #1    

Keely Heath (Ziegler)

I think everyone loved "Ms"!!!  What an impact she had on sooooo many kids!!   One of the best tributes Sheridan High School ever did was name the school's auditorium after "Ms"......so fitting.  The Sue Henry Auditorium. 

I know that my sister Karen just took her passing so hard as did the kids who had a lot to do with Ms.  Her obit was very tough to find online, but after much digging on the internet I found it.   Ms Henry's family had posted a huge tribute to her in the Sheridan paper and I have shared it here for you all. 

What a loss to Sheridan High School and Sheridan!!!   God Bless Ms. Henry. 


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