Suzanne Marie Wright Cutler, 80, died Wednesday, July 20, at Edelweiss Farm in West Liberty.
Private family graveside services were held at 12 p.m. Monday, at Springdale Cemetery, in rural West Branch. The Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty is caring for Suzanne’s family. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com.
Suzanne was born April 28, 1942, in Iowa Falls, to John and Eloise Wright, and grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri.
She graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1960 and was a gifted violinist, holding the position of concert mistress in her school orchestra all four years of high school. She often spent summers at the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, furthering her passion for music.
Suzanne graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a B.A. in Music Education in 1964.
Following graduation she was united in marriage to Leonard Ray Cutler on December 27, 1964, after which they moved to the Quad Cities and became long time members of Hope United Church of Christ in Moline.
Suzanne held long tenures as a professional violinist in the Kirkwood Community Orchestra in St. Louis, Philharmonic Orchestra, Quad City Symphony Orchestra and the Knox-Galesburg Symphony as well as substitute positions in orchestras across the midwest.
She also received a M.A. in Library Science and worked in several local libraries in the Quad Cities as well as holding a teacher license in both Illinois and Iowa so that she could substitute teach when called upon.
In 1982, Suzanne and her husband welcomed a daughter, Rebecca Lynn Cutler, via adoption after waiting patiently for seven long years.
Suzanne had a generous spirit, often caring for others, whether family or friends. She loved learning and took many additional courses to further her knowledge in agriculture, horticulture, health, music, and education. Suzanne was artistic in ways beyond music; she loved visual art, crafting and sewing, specifically tatting. She was very fond of books, constantly adding to her collection and took notes when speaking to almost everyone so that she could remember details of their conversations and learn as much as possible about the people of the world.
She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca (Jeremiah) Kramper and their two children; her brother, Charles (Graciela) Wright; nephew Christopher (Sondra) Wright and their children, niece Grace (Brandon) Carringer and their children; and hundreds of extended family and friends whose lives she touched.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years and both of her parents.