Susan

Susan was Jane's 3rd Child and Candis' 1/2 sister (Different fathers). She was born in Reading but moved to Texas as an infant. She grew up more or less an only child because Candis and Patrick moved out of the house when she was very small. Susan grew up in El Paso and went to college at UTEP. She met a wonderful man, they dated for a couple of years and they planned to wed, there was just one hitch.... Tracy. (aren't I always the problem).

See after Candis died July of 1973, Tracy remained with her father in Houston. He drowned himself further into the alcohol and drugs. Tracy was more of a Pet than a child in his altered state. If she was annoying, he would lock her in the closet. He would bring home table scraps to feed to her and the dog and would leave her alone during the day and night. He worked at steak & ale until they closed then he "managed" a bar till closing time. August of 73 rolled around and her dad sent her to school. Her first day of school he walked her to the end of the drive at their house, pointed to the left and said "Walk till you hit a big building and go in to tell them you are there for school." No lunch, no backpack, no supplies, no pictures. Tracy would get up every morning and walk herself to school because her Dad was either not up or not home. Sometimes the school wouldn't be open. Someone noticed. Someone noticed the little girl wearing the same clothes everyday. Someone noticed that she never had a lunch. Someone noticed that she was always alone. Someone noticed. Candis had filled out all the paperwork for kindergarten before she died and on there the emergency contact was the family in El Paso. They called. The family went into action. Helen was sent on a plane to go "GET" Tracy. She arrived at the home in Houston and banged on the door. The Doberman barked and Tracy hid. This 5 feet of Concrete Woman Kicked open the door and tongue lashed the dog into submission. She coxed Tracy out of her hiding space and after examining Tracy's room they left. She drove to the White House Department store and bought Tracy new clothes. She took her to the ladies room and bathed her in the sink and changed her into her new outfit. Then they went to the airport and flew back to El Paso. (Legally, it was kidnapping) Tracy's father took over two weeks to figure out Tracy hadn't been around much so he called El Paso and asked "have you seen Tracy?" They said, yes and we are going to keep her but it was like going from the frying pan into the fire. Both Jane and her husband were alcoholics and chain smokers on the verge of divorce. No place to raise a child. So Susan at 20 years old, made a decision. She was going to raise Tracy. She had to go to her fiance and explain that it was all or nothing. He said ALL with open arms and an open heart! So Richard, Susan and Tracy all got married and packed off to San Antonio to go to dental school while Susan taught school. Tracy's father refused to give up parental rights so Richard and Susan had to wait until he died to adopt her. Richard, Susan and Tracy will be celebrating 33 years at the end of May.