The names we are given—and the ones we earn along the way—tell the story of our lives.
Susan Lynn Studle, originally of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, passed peacefully on Saturday, April 11, surrounded by her family, with her favorite music playing in the background. As they departed her bedside, the sun broke through the clouds for the first time that day, and they like to think she is warm in heaven, resting on a beach next to Jesus.
Those who knew her would agree—she was not someone who sought attention. In fact, she would prefer we keep this brief and not make too much of a spectacle. She valued her privacy, choosing instead to invest her time and energy into what mattered most: the people she loved. Still, a life lived as deeply as hers makes brevity difficult, and we ask her to forgive us this one time.
She began her life as Susan Lynn Turner, most often called “Susan Lynn” or “Susie”, born on June 7, 1963—the third girl and fourth of six children to Aaron Paul Turner and Joyce Ann Lindsey. That name belonged to a little girl growing up in a full house, learning early how to stand her ground. She is preceded in death by her father, lovingly known as “Dado.”
To her siblings—Patricia Rochelle Walton, Connie Jane Martin, James Paul Turner, Timothy Edmund Turner, and Gregory Alan Turner—she was both the baby and a big sister. In a family like theirs, roles had a way of shifting, but the bond remained constant. She is also preceded in death by two of her brothers, affectionately known as “Bo” and “Timothy.”
On January 2, 1988, she wedded Ronald Otis Studle of Park City, Kentucky. With their marriage, she took on a new last name—one that reflected partnership, commitment, and a life built together over many years.
To her children, Michael Andrew “Andy” Rector (Jenny Rae), Kristin Rochelle Jewell (Chaz), and Ronald Hunter Studle (Camilla), she was known by one of her most important names—“Momma.” She instilled in them a healthy dose of common sense, a fierce poker face, and the confidence to take on the world. Her lessons were practical, lasting, and delivered in a way only she could.
Many knew her most cherished name was “Grams.” Her grandchildren—Jaxon and Zachary Rector, Jett and Ezra Jewell, Ava Parson, and Otis Studle—knew her best by that name. To them, she was the maker of perfect grilled cheese sandwiches, the keeper of an endless supply of Sunny D and gummy snacks, and a steady, loving presence who made ordinary moments feel special.
To her friends and extended family, she answered to many names—Susie, Susie Cat, Aunt Susie, Susie Q, Susia, Blood Sista, Queen Bee, and even Sushi. Each one reflected a different season, a shared history, and the kind of loyalty that defined her relationships. Her legacy in friendship is evident in the immediate and profound loss felt by those who loved her—because if you were her friend, you had something real, something lasting.
She was funny in a way that never needed a stage and could communicate volumes with a single look. She did not live loudly, but she loved deeply.
And if she were here to hear all of this, she would likely remind us that we’ve said enough already.
So we will simply end with this: whatever name you knew her by, you were lucky to know her at all.
Our final wish for Susie is that she may always be remembered by her favorite names—and by those who gave them.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Studle Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated to supporting autism awareness and education efforts in Bowling Green and surrounding areas. Donations can be made at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel or at www.studlefoundation.org.
To honor Susie’s wishes, the family will host a private visitation on Thursday, April 16th and a private graveside service on Friday, April 17th.
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