Suzannah Clarke Bayles March 24, 1977 ~ May 16, 2024

Suzannah was born in the Gallup, NM Indian Health Hospital at 3:45 a.m. on March 24, 1977, to Alva Byron Clarke III and Shirley Woody.
She was born into the Tachíí’níí clan. Her grandparents are Alva Byron Clarke II and Helen Angela Haller Clarke and John Woody and Suzie Charley Woody.
She was named Suzannah after her grandmother, Suzie, and great grandmother, Anna. Her grandmother Susie Woody gave her the name At’eed lichii, or Fair Lady.  
Suzie has always been a happy soul. She was born smiling, often showing a  mischievous grin when she was up to some innocent prank.
She and her sisters loved to pretend they were the Ingalls sisters from Little House on the Prairie.
She was reading at an early age and enjoyed stories like Anne of Green Gables, Wind in the Willows, Charlotte’s Web, and other tales of friendship and adventure. She always did well in school, though she didn’t especially enjoy math.  
Suzie was the quiet leader: her six siblings would play together peacefully for hours as Suzie redirected conflicts and soothed the occasional hurt feelings.
She loved to cast her siblings into her impromptu skits and programs. 
Suzannah tended to be studious in school and she had many close friends. She always listened with genuine concern and responded constructively and sympathetically. 
She enjoyed adventures with her school friends. She was not too shy to lead cheers for the hometown San Juan Broncos for a year before joining the San Juan Royals dance team the following year with sister Eva. Sister Sandi joined the team two years later.  
After high school, Suzannah was a nanny in Maryland for a year. It was challenging, but she worked the whole year because she promised to work the year.
While there, she spent many happy weekends visiting her grandmother Helen Clarke in Arlington, VA. They developed a deep friendship which they both cherish still.  
Returning from Maryland, Suzannah pursued her LPN certification at College of Eastern Utah. The work was tough for her romantic soul and got tougher when a big noisy cowboy proposed marriage to her at the start of finals week.
He waited with all the patience for which big noisy cowboys are famous until Suzie’s finals were over, when she accepted his proposal.
Brian Bayles and Suzannah Clarke were married in the Mount Timponogos Temple on August 14, 1998. Everyone wondered how a sweet and gentle Suzie would fare married to a big noisy cowboy.
She stepped up with the help of her mother-in-law Linda Bayles. Though neither one of them ever totally figured out Brian, they grew quite close to one another in the effort.   
Children soon came to their marriage: Abrienne Celes (2000), Brock Lyman (2002), Elliana Shae (2004), and Gracie Paige (2006).
After ten years as a delivery driver, Brian and Suzie bought Patio Drive-in in Blanding in January of 2008. They worked into the wee hours painting, repairing, cleaning and remodeling while selling “Big B” burgers during the day. 
Brian and Suzie’s dream of owning a family restaurant came true and Patio Drive-In became quite popular under their ownership. They loved their employees like family. 
Suzie worked tirelessly to plan events to show their appreciation. She decorated, kept the books, and did whatever was needed while raising the children.  
On August 8 2008, Brian was on an early morning plane ride with two friends when their small plane crashed.  Suzie became a single mother instantly. She reluctantly made the decision to sell Patio and focus on her children.  
Suzie proceeded to build the dream house she and Brian had planned, but only lived there a few years before she and her children moved to Salem, UT.
They  lived there for four years before Suzie was diagnosed with breast cancer. With the help of her children, her family, and her many friends, she and her doctors fought the cancer for eight long years. 
Suzie was a romantic at heart and always dreamed of visiting beautiful, far away places. In May of 2023, she was able to travel with her children and extended family to look across the Atlantic from the Cliffs of Moher, ride a horse through Irish fairy woods, and explore castles in France.
She bravely drove a car all over rush-hour downton London, the English countryside and through the green fields of Ireland.
She conquered her fear of heights and jumped from an old stone bridge into a crisp Lake Como in Italy, and enjoyed a traditional supper served in a beautiful French garden by loving friends.
While traveling, she was grateful for the miracle of being pain-free for most of the trip, which freed her to enjoy every crazy and beautiful moment. These memories filled her soul and will sustain her children through the days ahead. 
May 13, 2024, Suzie was admitted to the hospital where her condition deteriorated rapidly. 
On May 15, 2024 at 11 p.m. her youngest daughter, Gracie, graduated from Salem Hills High. Principal Ryan McGuire presented the diploma, while Suz listened, still in bed, to the single-graduate commencement. 
On May 16, with eyes closed and heart open, she heard her family celebrate her daughter Elliana’s 20th birthday. 
She completed her earthly journey at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center moments later at 1:04 p.m., surrounded by many family and friends.
Suzannah is survived by her children listed above, parents Al and Shirley Clarke, parents-in-law Lloyd and Lois Bayles, siblings Evangelyn (Chris) Ewald, Sandra (Doug) Marriott, Alva Byron (Emily) Clarke IV, John (Shauna) Clarke, Gabriel (Heather) Clarke, and Rachel (Jim) Johnson, and Brian’s siblings and family, nieces and nephews, and dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins. And hundreds of friends across the world, bonded heart to heart.
God bless and keep you all, and thank you for your many kindnesses and prayers for Suzie.
Funeral services are Wednesday, May 22 at 11 a.m. at the LDS Church at 160 S 460 W in Salem, UT. Viewing from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Blanding funeral services are Friday, May 24, at 1 p.m. at the Blanding Stake Center with viewing preceding from 11 to 12:30. Suzie will be buried in the Blanding Cemetery, next to her husband Brian.