WILLIAMSON, Susan Lynn

Susan Lynn Williamson, 55, of Austin, passed away, Thursday, October 10, 2013, from lung cancer.

She was born in Dallas, Texas, on February 25, 1958, to Joseph and Charlotte Williamson. Susan attended R.L. Turner High School and went on to earn a Bachelors of Arts for Select Students in English and Political Science from Stephen F. Austin University. In addition, Susan earned a masters degree from the University of Texas in English/Creative Writing.

She met Dan Galewsky in 1983 at the Spamarama at Soap Creek Saloon. They were married in Austin on April 5, 1986.

Susan started her professional life as a writer and photographer for the Lufkin Daily News. Susan helped create and edit American Short Fiction, and edited Texas Architect magazine. Susan also worked as a freelance writer and editor for many years with diverse clients such as the McDonald Observatory, the Texas Environmental Law Journal, and the Sustainable Food Center.

While her children, Jake and Sophie, were in elementary school, Susan spent countless hours organizing the Travis Heights Young Writers Workshop. She was a team manager for a group of girls in the Destination Imagination creative problemsolving competition, and helped the girls go all the way to the Destination Imagination global competition in Tennessee. Susan also managed the Capital City Marching band festival for two years while her son and daughter were students at the Liberal Arts and Sciences magnet high school.

In her spare time, Susan supervised the remodeling of her home in Travis Heights, cultivated a beautiful garden of native Texas plants, hosted a renowned spring garden party for many years, and read more mystery novels than any other human being alive.

To gain a little insight into the things that Susan loved, listen to Imperial Bedroom by Elvis Costello or Good Dog Happy Man by Bill Frisell or Leonard Cohen's song Anthem. Read 'Miles City, Montana' by Alice Munro or the essay 'Joyas Voladoras' by Brian Doyle, or the poem 'The Summer Day' by Mary Oliver. Or go take a walk at the Wildflower Center or go visit Wave Hill Garden in the Bronx. These were all things that made Susan happy.

Susan is survived by her brother John, his wife Liz, and their son Scott, her children Jacob and Sophia, her father Joe, her loving husband Dan, her ever loyal Miniature Dachshund Buddy, her Parents in law Harry and Sonia Galewsky, and her dear brothers in law, Andy, Ben, Sam, Joe, and their families.

Susan will be buried at the Eloise Woods Community Natural Burial Park in a private ceremony.

A celebration of Susan's life for her family and many friends will be held in the near future.

To make a donation to help young writers in memory of Susan Williamson: The New Writers Program/Susan Williamson, c/o Ms. Cecilia Smith Morris, The Department of English, University of Texas at Austin, One University Station, Austin, TX 78712.

The birds they sang at

the break of day

Start again I

heard them say

Don't dwell on what has passed away

or what is yet to be.

From 'Anthem' by Leonard Cohen


Published in Austin American-Statesman from Oct. 20 to Oct. 21, 2013