Susan "Sue" Stilts, 58, died at 12:16 p.m., Friday, September 16, 2022, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, following a brief battle with thyroid cancer. She was greeted into heaven by her beloved husband, father, and father-in-law.
Sue was born at St. Joseph's Hospital in Alton, Illinois on January 27, 1964, the third of four children born to Carl Dale Edward and Gail (Gray) Miller.
She grew up in Jerseyville alongside her siblings in a loving home, surrounded by friends in the neighborhood. She graduated in 1982 from Jersey Community High School in Jerseyville, and soon after, on April 23, 1983, she married her high school sweetheart, Robert "Bob" Stilts. Their love affair would span over 38 years before his death on December 29, 2021. The two of them shared a love and a commitment rarely found, and both of them were fortunate to realize what a special gift they both had. Although they had no children of their own, they had plenty of love to give to their many nieces and nephews, as well as a few employees along the way that they were fortunate enough to develop a special bond.
In 1987, Bob and Sue purchased Len's Towing from his parents, and the two shared a work ethic and moral compass that allowed the business to flourish and grow. Throughout their 32 years in business, they formed many special friendships with their customers and their many valued employees, and in 2019 decided it was time to sell their business in order to spend more time with each other, their families, and their friends.
Although both Bob and Sue's lives were cut way too short, they both experienced deep love for each other and shared many wonderful experiences with their family and friends, so they both easily considered themselves the benefactors of a very special and blessed life.
Surviving Sue is her mother, Gail Miller Carr, and her husband, Paul Carr of Chesterfield, Illinois; her three siblings, and their spouses, Carla and Robert Lindley of Bethalto, David and Janet Miller of Jerseyville, and Stacey and Steve Wock of Jerseyville; her mother-in-law, Donna Stilts of Jerseyville; her brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Debbie and Mike Turner of Jerseyville, Mike and Melinda Stilts of Alton and Lenard Stilts Jr. of Jerseyville; along with a special cousin and "bonus" sister, Cindy Conrad of Eldred.
She is also survived by her loving nieces and nephews, along with their spouses, Heather and Justin Goetten of Jerseyville, Matthew and Jarrah Lindley of Shiloh, Ryan and Kayla Lindley of Bethalto, Megan and Phillip Price of Carrollton, Bradley and Krystal Wock, Brandon Wock, Kaitlyn and Derek Ebersole, all of Jerseyville, Kelli and Justin Decker of Grafton, Lindsay and Josh Laird of Jerseyville, Justen and Meaghan Stilts of Brighton, Lauren and Trent Bick of Jerseyville, Austin Stilts and Adam Stilts, both of Alton; as well as many loving great nieces and nephews, and her beloved fur baby, Maggie.
She was preceded in death by her father, Carl Dale Edward Miller; her father-in-law, Lenard Stilts Sr. and several fur babies, Manix, Max, and Mandy.
Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2022, at Crawford Funeral Home in Jerseyville, where funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday. Rev. John Gibson will officiate.
Sue will be laid to rest alongside her beloved husband, Bob, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Jerseyville.
Memorials may be given to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Shriner's Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, or Riverbend Humane Society.
Memories may be shared at www.crawfordfunerals.com.
