Susan Watkins Lane

Susan Watkins Lane, 82, passed away on Aug. 23, 2023 at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. Susan loved hosting gatherings and entertaining family and friends She possessed a giving heart. Susan Lane lived the past 15 years in Sugar Land, Texas with Harlan Lane, her husband. Known as “Muti,” she loved the visits by her family. They took on a routine that all looked forward to during frequent visits: A trip to Outback where Harlan drank a glass of wine and teased the wait staff; shopping while Harlan waited patiently; silver platters full of nachos, tacos, taquitos and chips at Berryhill; salads with the ducks at Becks Prime. Susan spoiled her grandchildren, especially Jake Suellentrop, her youngest grandchild. They shopped for colorful Nike socks, Astro shirts and school clothes. Other fond memories include trips to Wichita for Molly Suellentrop’s graduation from Kapaun Mount Carmel High School. Molly and fiancé Brendon Stewart visited the Lanes before their wedding. Ben Suellentrop learned to drive on the highways of Houston and enhanced his wardrobe with trips to the mall with Muti. Susan named an upstairs bedroom “Hannah’s bedroom” for Ben’s wife. Hannah made several trips to help Cynthia manage Susan and Harlan’s affairs to extend their time in their home. Susan and Cynthia, her youngest daughter, were known by sight to the staff at J. Jill at First Colony Mall in Sugar Land. They would shop, compare outfits and laugh and talk while Harlan sat on a chair and offered his thoughts on the clothes. Susan and Cynthia got pedicures and sometimes snuck away for a movie night during those visits. Susan adored her grandchildren. Most phone calls ended with “When are my precious angels going to come see me?” She talked daily with Jake. During football season, Jacob kept Susan and Harlan updated on the NFL by telling them what channel the Cowboys, the Chiefs and Tom Brady played on. Susan frequently offered her guests rooms to the children and their friends. Twice, the Suellentrops went to the Final Four in Houston and stayed with the Lanes. They also attended several Astros games and one special night in the club seats at the Rockets. When the Suellentrops visited, a red velvet cake from H.E.B. always awaited their arrival because she knew it was a family favorite. In Houston, she reconnected with her Catholic faith and married Harlan in a ceremony at St. Theresa in Sugar Land. Cynthia encouraged her faith life and they traded books and Catholic publications. After Sunday Mass, the Suellentrops usually took Susan to First Watch for brunch. Harlan gave Susan a consistency and accountability that made the last 15 years of her life happy and stable. Susan cared for Harlan, cooking him scrambled eggs and bacon almost every morning, and helped him as his eyesight and hearing declined in recent years. Bichon dogs George and Pierre provided company for Susan and Harlan. Susan grew up in Hot Springs, the daughter of A.D. and Marjorie Watkins and lived the social life of a cheerleader and homecoming queen at Lakeside High School. She grew up on Lake Catherine, which is where she met the late Donald Couch, her first husband and father of their children Laura, Cynthia and Donald Peter Couch, Jr. She is survived by: Harlan Lane, her husband, of Sugar Land; Laura Brasel (daughter) and husband Mitchell, of Harrison, Ark., Tiffiny Harding (granddaughter), Harrison, Ark., Ravyn Spears, (great granddaughter), Harrison, Ark., Laura Lyn Martin (granddaughter) and husband Jake Martin, Western Grove, Ark. Cynthia Suellentrop (daughter) and husband Paul, Wichita, Molly Stewart (granddaughter) and husband Brendon and Maggie (great granddaughter), Kansas City, Mo., Robert Suellentrop (grandson) and wife Hannah, Wichita and Jacob Suellentrop (grandson), Wichita. Donald Peter Couch Jr., and wife Noel of Simpsonville, S.C., Emily Gutman (granddaughter) and husband Jon Gutman, Fort Worth, Texas; Trey Couch (grandson), Benton Ark. Joe Phillip Watkins (brother) and wife Alice Ann Watkins, Hope, Ark.; niece and nephews. Susan was preceded in death by A.D. Watkins (father) and Marjorie Watkins (mother), Hot Springs, Ark. Rosary will at 10:00 am, Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am, Friday, September 22, 2023, at Church of the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 124 N. Roosevelt, Wichita, KS 67208. Burial in Hot Springs, AR. In lieu of flowers, a memorial to honor the memory of Susan has been established with the Holy Family Special Needs Foundation, Catholic Diocese of Wichita, 424 N. Broadway, Wichita, KS 67202 or go to www.HFSNF.org

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