Susanne C. Shutz

Susanne C. Shutz
February 24, 1936 – May 19, 2025

Susanne Christopher Shutz, or “Susie/Soozie” to friends and family, was born on February 24, 1936, to Maxine Christopher Shutz and Byron T. Shutz in Kansas City, Missouri. Susie was a devoted daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt; she is survived by her children, Laura Curry Sloan (Peter Sloan), of Kansas City, MO, Janet Curry (Peter Arcomano) of Santa Fe, NM, Charles Shutz Curry of Bainbridge Island, WA, and Maxine Christopher of Boulder, CO; her grandchildren, Curry (Ellie Dixon), Kellyn, and Riley Sloan (Blaire Ebert), Amanda Arcomano Goetz (Teddy Goetz) and Corry Arcomano, and Maddie and Camden McClure; her great grandchild, Kit Goetz; and beloved nieces and nephews. Her time spent with each of them lit up her world.

Susanne graduated from The Sunset Hill School, Bradford Junior College, and The University of Missouri-Columbia (‘57), where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, Mortar Board and Phi Beta Kappa. In 1980, she earned a M.A. in Theatre at The University of Missouri – Kansas City. She was twice married and twice divorced, first to Charles E. Curry, and later to James M. Kemper.

From the age of 10, when she first performed onstage at Camp Kechewa’s summer talent show, she was “bit by the bug”. Theatre was a deep and abiding passion which she pursued through acting, directing, teaching speech and drama to high school students, as well as teaching the art of effective public speaking via her business, Speakwell Consultants. A romantic at heart, she was known to break into song from her vast musical theatre repertoire. If family members were to join in, so much the better.

While she contributed as a Board member to numerous worthy organizations, she was most proud of having served the Arts through her work on The President’s Advisory Commission of The John F. Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C., and on the Boards of The Acting Company, NYC, the Kansas City Arts Council, the Kansas City Chapter of Young Audiences, Inc., and The Missouri Repertory Theatre. She was an Advisory Board member of The Coterie Theatre in Kansas City.

Susanne was a lifelong learner, and her endless curiosity and creativity were expressed in her appetite for reading, critiquing films, gardening, and one-to-one, in-depth conversations. She made countless personalized needlepoint and quilt projects for family members and longtime friends and ran an “individual news-clipping service” for loved ones, whose interests expanded her own horizons.

She loved so many things: learning to slalom water ski in the cove near “Footprint” at the Lake of the Ozarks, berry picking at “The Perch on the Precipice” on Whidbey Island, WA, gathering

wildflowers at “The Lookout” in Creede, CO, her devoted dog friends, and marathon theatre trips to London, England (regularly seeing 9 or more shows in a week). Susanne’s close and beloved friendships–nourished over the decades from Camp Kechewa days, college, and those formed in recent years–brought her great joy and sustenance.

Susanne made use of her long life to become more of who she really was–more authentic, more direct, more generous, more loyal, and more of a fierce supporter of causes she believed were just. If one’s worth is measured by the depth of meaningful, loving connection with others, then Susanne’s life was solid gold. In her final weeks, as cancer diminished her body but not her mind or spirit, all the care she had given to others came back to her in spades. She made her last exit peacefully, content, and surrounded by love.

The family is deeply grateful to Kansas City Hospice and in particular, Susanne’s nurse, Emily, and to her enormously kind and skilled caregivers, Whitney, Anitha, Ruth, and Amy and Royce with A Place At Home. There will be a private gathering for family at a later date; in lieu of flowers, we suggest making a memorial donation to Planned Parenthood Great Plains, (https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-great-plains/get-involved/support-ppgp or to their mailing address:  PPGP, 4401 W 109th St., Overland Park, KS 66211), or to the ACLU (https://action.aclu.org/give/support-aclu-kansas-tribute or to their mailing address: ACLU of Kansas, PO Box 13048, Overland Park, KS 66282). Or take family and friends to a live performance at a local theater in Susanne’s honor!