Davidson-Thomas, Susan

Susan “Sue” Davidson-Thomas (also McKamey), 78, of Caroline, WI, formerly of Chicago, IL, died September 2, 2011 following a courageous and inspiring 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. She was born in Oshkosh in 1932, the daughter of Ione (nee Boldt) and Robert Nyle Davidson. Susan earned her bachelor’s degree at UW Madison, and a teaching certificate at Chicago Teacher’s College. She was an elementary school teacher in Chicago Public Schools from approximately 1960-78, and then taught 20 more years for Menominee Indian School District at Keshena and Neopit, where she authored a favorite and long-lived daily pledge: “I dedicate my efforts of this day to my own bright future, the honor of those who love me, and the dignity and progress of the Menominee Nation.” Until her illness she was a substitute teacher at Clintonville High School, Homme Home for the Boys, and a volunteer driver for Shawano County Dept of Social Services/Aging. She enjoyed nature, books and libraries, traveling, museums and cultural performances, gardening, teaching, and making a difference for others. She was a member of Waupaca County Master Gardeners and a volunteer at Mosquito Hill Nature Center. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings Donald, Richard, and Robert Davidson and Shirley Daley. She is survived by her sister-in-law Phyllis (nee Maloney) Davidson of Southampton, NJ, son Minor (Doris) Thomas of Chicago, daughter Althea (Chaga) Walton of Evanston, IL, four grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a host of loving family and friends, among them Kathleen Susan Colwell of Waupaca, Edward Daley of Milwaukee and Boise, ID, Peter (Katie) Colwell of Wausau, Michael (Cori Westphal) Colwell of Madison, and Stephen Colwell of Milwaukee. A Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for Susan’s life will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, Oct 29, with a luncheon reception immediately following, at Mosquito Hill Nature Center, N3880 Rogers Road, New London, WI 54961. For more info: 847-561-8608. In lieu of flowers, gifts in memory may be made to Friends of Mosquito Hill Nature Center, mosquitohill.org, 920-734-6000; Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU, aclu-il.org, 312-201-9740; or your local public library. Online guestbook at chicagotribune.com/obituaries