Obituary of Susan C. Black

Susan C. Black, “Grammie Sue”, 80, passed away unexpectedly at her home in Belfast on Monday, April 15th. Sue was born on November 14, 1938, in Belfast to Donald S. Sr. and Anne H (Greinert) Clark. Sue attended schools in Belfast and graduated from Crosby High School in 1957. She attended Farmington State Teacher’s College in Farmington, Maine. On June 18, 1960, at the First Church in Belfast, she married Phil Black of Belfast. Sue and Phil were very active in their community where they were members of Jaycees and the Broiler Festival. They were founding members of the Bay Area Riders Motorcycle Club. In 1977 Sue and Phil opened and operated Western Auto in Belfast. After they closed Western Auto, they purchased and operated Ocean Side Health and Fitness in Belfast. Sue began a long time career as an Ed Tech in the local school districts. She most recently was working at THMS in the TLC program. She was lucky enough to work in schools where her great-grandchildren attended. She was affectionately known to their friends, students, and staff as “Gram Sue”. Grammie Sue was excited that Jonny was going to be attending school at THMS next year. Retirement was not a word in her vocabulary. Sue was a very talented artist and enjoyed Tole Painting. She participated in many craft fairs under the guise of the “Tole Booth”. She enjoyed teaching and painting with her grandchildren. Sue was a very proud “Shrine Lady” attending many Shrine Functions with Phil for over 50 years. It was here where she became involved in the Sunshine Club raising money to help Shrine patients with transportation costs to the Shrine Hospitals. Sue was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, Philip R. Black Sr., her parents, her mother and father-in-law, Dr. Russell and Dorothea Black, her brother and sister-in-law, Donald S. Clark, Jr. and Mary Esther Treat Clark, and her brother-in-law Bruce R. Black. She will be greatly missed by her children, Dorothea (Duffy) and Thomas Woods (w/h) of Northport, Philip Jr. (Rusty) and Bethany Black of Belmont, and Barbara J. (BJ) and Kevin Kent (w/o h) of Indianapolis, IN; her grandchildren, Brandy L. Woods and fiancé Randy Abbott of Belmont, Brittany L. Jones and husband Joshua of Westbrook, Kyle A. Black and fiancé Erica Leach of Belmont, and Spencer D. and Parker P. Kent of Indianapolis, IN. She was so proud to be great Grammie Sue to Emily A. and Ethan T. Abbott, and Jonny Walker Black and Kolton A. Black, all of Belmont, and Jasper R. Jones of Westbrook. She will also be remembered by her brothers-in-law David Black and wife Mary, and James Black, all of Belfast, as well as very special extended family Alan Hamm and children Todd Hamm and Tracey Hamm Lavender, all of Massachusetts and many nieces, nephews and cousins. Sue was lucky to have her Anah Shrine family and the “BGs” in her life as well as many dear friends near and far. XOXO A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 4th, at the First Church in Belfast at 11:00am with her nephew Fred Black officiating. Following the service, friends and family are invited to gather at the Waldo County Shrine Club to celebrate her life. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Sunshine Club, ℅ Betty Bowen, 227 North Searsport Rd, Swanville, Maine 04915. A scholarship is also being set up in Sue’s name. Donations to that should be sent to Duffy Woods, 184 Rocky Rd, Northport, ME 04849.