Susan Hamersley

Susan peacefully left the world entirely too early on January 16, 2021.  She was born on Thanksgiving Day, 1949 to Tom and Nancy Dokken at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings, MT.  Susan spent her youth in Billings, MT and in the East Rosebud valley, graduating from Billings West High School in 1968. She spent her freshman year of college at Colorado Women’s College.  She transferred after her first year to the University of Montana where she was in Kappa Alpha Theta, in the same sorority house as her mother and grandmother.  Ultimately, the Colorado sunshine brought her back to Denver to finish her degree in Elementary Education and to work on her tan year-round with her sister on their Western facing balcony of their apartment on Birch Street.

Susan graduated from Colorado Women’s College and began her teaching career in Adams 14 School District.  In 1980, she moved to Washington D.C. where she taught in the prestigious Fairfax County School District and created lifelong friendships.

Although teaching was her professional career, she was finally able to pursue her passion of interior decorating. Her talent was a gift. She started her own interior design business and had several clients from the White House and foreign Ambassadors.  In 1985, she gave birth to her daughter Kate and took a break to be a full-time mom.

In 1990, Susan and Kate returned to Montana so that Susan could raise her daughter in the community where she grew up and enjoy a slower pace of life.  The two of them lived in a darling house on Poly Drive with the best deck in town. Susan spent her life focusing on raising Kate and gave up so much in order to make sure that Kate had every opportunity available to her.  They skied together and took golf lessons and could often be found driving to an ice cream or a fast-food drive thru with their dog Groovy when the days were just too hot to sit at home.

When Kate left for the University of Colorado, wanting to be closer, Susan moved to Denver, CO.  She and Kate were always inseparable. Every Sunday Kate would return to her mother’s home from college or her own apartment for laundry and Sunday night dinner together.  In 2014, Kate married Michael Villegas and the traditions continued, however, instead of two now there were three. Kate always joked that Michael was the favorite child.

Susan continued to teach until she retired in 2014. After her retirement she was able to pursue her other passion of gardening and flowers and volunteered at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Every Tuesday morning Michael would drive her to the Botanic Gardens and they would check out a different coffee shop on the way for a special treat. Her favorite was “Hot Chick a Latte” on Colfax, of course.

Susan became the proud Grandma of two beautiful children, Annabel and Bridger. Annabel is lucky enough to share Susan’s middle name and will continue to embody Grandma Sus’ spunk, fearlessness, and love of not wearing shoes.

Susan left this world all too soon and will be missed dearly by everyone who was fortunate enough to know her. She leaves behind her proudest achievement, her daughter Kate and son-in-law Michael Villegas (Annabel and Bridger), sister Karen Miklin (Alan Shocket), brother Peder Dokken, brother Jason Dokken (Christy), and brother Dana Dokken (Laura) plus nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews who she loved dearly. She was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Nancy Dokken.

In lieu of flowers please consider donating to the Denver Botanic Gardens in her memory. Donate Now - Denver Botanic Gardens .

Due to Covid restrictions a small family viewing will be held Thursday January 21st, 2021. A larger outdoor gathering will be held this Spring. If you are interested in receiving more information please email katehamersley@gmail.com.