Suzanne Carter Hahn of San Angelo, TX, 88, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, December 22, 2025.
Suzanne/Suzy/Nana Sue was born on January 14, 1937, in McAllen, TX, to Harris George Carter of Robert Lee, TX, and Beulah Tickle Carter of San Angelo, TX. She graduated from San Angelo High School in 1954. She and her brother, Harris G. Carter, Jr., were raised on an 800 acre ranch west of San Angelo (referred to as “the place”) and observed the hardships of country life during the depression era, which included periods of extreme drought and no electricity until 1950. Her parents were both teachers, educated at the University of Texas over many summers, but were persuaded by Beulah’s mother, Zillah, to relocate to San Angelo in 1938 to make a go at ranching. Suzanne later wrote an article for the San Angelo Standard Times (where she was a frequent guest columnist) entitled ‘The Alien,’ which chronicled her father’s experiences as school superintendent-turned-sheep rancher. Suzanne married Marlin D. Hahn of Mason, TX, in 1954. At a very young age, she became a mom to two children: Marlin Dale Hahn, Jr., San Angelo, TX, and Pamela Hahn Butler (Robert), Lampasas, TX. Suzanne always said that she learned everything she needed to know about raising children from her beloved sister-in-law, Wauldine. She was a loving grandmother to three grandchildren: Samantha J. Butler (Tom Carter), Sugarland, TX; Justin Carter Hahn, Tucson, AZ; and Wylie Gage Hahn, Lubbock, TX. She loved her nieces and nephews and is survived by: Aimee Reason (Eddie), Ft. Worth, TX; Audrey Carter McAtee (Tim), Houston, TX; Danny Jo Carter (Suzi), Las Vegas, NV; and her grandniece, Sarah Carter, Austin, TX and grand nephews, Tristan and Lexi, Las Vegas, NV. She was especially close to June Harris Holmes Koch, her first cousin, Ballinger, TX, who visited her often, her second cousins, Richard Tickle, Eden, TX, and Cynthia Tickle Dennis Jones, Covington, TN, and her sister-in-law, Joyce Trowbridge, Lake Worth Beach, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Harris G. Carter, Ft. Worth, TX; her dear nephew, David Lindsay Carter, Austin, TX; sister-in-law, Wauldine Carter, Kyle, TX; and first cousins Edwin Tickle, Eden, TX, and Jack Tickle, San Marcos, TX.
She made many loving friends growing up in San Angelo and remained close with all of them through the years while living in Houston working for Pool Company from 1978 to 1981, and later when she was briefly married to Richard Coyne from New York, NY, and relocated with him to Washington, DC. There, in 1982, she joined United Parcel Service (UPS) as a Public Affairs Manager. Suzanne worked for UPS until 1993, relocating first to Greenwich, CT and later, Atlanta, GA. In her early married years, Suzanne and Marlin enjoyed playing bridge with friends, water skiing at Twin Buttes reservoir, horseback riding, Terpsichorean dance club, Beta Sigma Phi social group activities, and spending time at ‘the place’ on Arden Route with her mom and dad and caring for them until their passing in 1976. Suzanne worked for Angelo State University and in about 1970 joined Pool Company in San Angelo before a transfer to Houston after a divorce in 1978. She was always reading and enjoyed sewing for her mother, daughter, and granddaughter. Before and after retirement, she became interested in family genealogy and visited England several times to research her maternal lineage. She later documented their settlement in Texas as part of becoming a Daughter of the Republic of Texas. Suzanne loved to write and was enrolled in classes at Angelo State University, the University of Houston, and Georgetown University while living in Washington, D.C. She wrote numerous essays, book reviews, and opinion pieces which were published in the Houston Chronicle and the San Angelo Standard Times over many years. Her writing covered topics such as drought and ranching, the ‘yankee’ invasion of Houston for oil industry jobs in the early 80s, West Texas cowboys, World Wars I and II, immigration, and political commentary around the time of the 2016 election.
After returning to San Angelo, Suzanne became a member of Grace Christian Church and would teach Sunday school classes now and then as she loved the historical aspects of the bible. Suzanne also traveled extensively post retirement with good friends Dorothy Hambright and Marilyn Swain, both of whom she has missed dearly since their passing. She loved playing bridge and reading books with her book club and quoting famous poems by memory, just like her father and brother did. She recited the poem ‘Invictus’ by memory the summer before her death. She continued to enjoy time with high school friends Connie Fletcher and Betty Sue Henry until the end. She was a loving, lifetime presence to her grandchildren and spent many holidays and summers traveling with them, entertaining them, and feeding them, along with the Robinson boys of the Santa Rita ‘hood.’ She attended numerous football games, gymnastics events, swim meets, and musical performances over the years. She was her grandchildren’s biggest fan and advocate, and they treasure every moment spent with her. Her children and grandchildren have so many special and cherished memories with her, especially at Thanksgiving when all would gather at “the place” to prepare haggis (a tradition started by Dale, David, and Harris G.) and walk to the old barn to hear campfire stories about Bo Jones as told by her brother, Harris G. At Christmas, she would plan and execute treasure hunts for the grandchildren and host family gatherings with flair. Suzanne was always the talker at family gatherings, just like her father and brother, and was always very well versed on public events and politics; we will be having very dull gatherings without her. She leaves us having shared a lot about her life and memories of her family and growing up, and we are comforted by that. She was tenacious and respected adversity and people who overcame great obstacles. She loved songs like “Sunday Morning Coming Down” or “Why Me Lord” or “Blowing in the Wind” or “Let it Be.” She dealt with the gritty aspects of life, recognizing through Dylan Thomas that “this world ain’t no place for the weary kind,” and quoted scripture during Covid, posting on FB that “Psalm 30:5 is a verse of comfort for us all - ‘Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.’ – we just have to tie another knot and hang on.”
A special thanks to the wonderful caregivers at The Crest, especially Hilda and Melissa and Lenore and Jane and Laura, who watched over her with such tenderness. And, to her amazing hospice team, Randi and Noemi, our sincerest, heartfelt thanks. A celebration of Suzanne’s life will be held on January 17, 2026 at 10 AM at Grace Christian Church, San Angelo, TX with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace Christian Church.
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