Susie A. Winters

Big Lake resident Susie A. Winters, 51, passed away Feb. 27, 2008 at Mat-Su Regional Medical Center after a brief illness that led to heart failure. A celebration of her life will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at Big Lake Elementary. Everyone who knew Winters is invited to share in this remembrance celebration and potluck.

Winters was born Jan. 6, 1957 in Madison, Wisc., to Ken and Joan (Middleton) Beier, and came to Alaska at the age of 18. Once she arrived in Alaska, she immediately knew she had found her home. Her friends said she had a vibrant, friendly personality that enveloped everyone fortunate enough to know her. In the Big Lake Community, she was simply known as Susie. Like Cher and Bono, no last name was necessary. Everyone knew and loved her.

Over the years she worked at a variety of jobs throughout Alaska, including Safeway and Steve’s Food Boy, but was recently able to realize her dream of opening her own espresso stand, Susie’s Bean Buzz, in Big Lake. No words exist to express the tremendous sadness and shock that is being felt by everyone who knew Susie, especially by her beloved partner and love, Tom Reed.

Winters is survived by her partner Tom Reed of Big Lake; father Ken Beier of Madison; sister Stacie (Jim) Lund of Madison; brothers Craig (Jeri) Beier of Redmond, Ore., and Steve Beier of Madison; and nieces Nicole, McKenzie, Sydnie and Gabie.

She was preceeded in death by her mother Joan (Middleton) Beier.