Connie Lynn Bell (Susak), born Aug. 14, 1947, to parents Art and Alice Bell in Elma, Washington, passed away June 11, 2020, in Olympia, Washington, at the age of 72. She was a breast cancer survivor and fought pancreatic cancer for over two and a half years before passing.

Connie grew up in McCleary, attending Garden City Elementary where her mother was a teacher. She graduated from Elma High School before pursuing her teaching degree at Central Washington University. She then took her first and only teaching position with Aberdeen High School in the Home Economics Department where she remained until her retirement 42 years later.

Connie devoted her life to teaching kids and loving animals. When not at work, she could be found on her parents’ third-generation family farm, feeding cattle, brushing horses and loving on all the smaller critters. She raised her daughter to love animals and the farm as she did. True to her teaching career, Connie loved to cook and was an accomplished seamstress. She also enjoyed her flowers and was a dedicated Master Gardener.

Connie was preceded in death by her husband Don Susak and is survived by their daughter Chadlyn of Ellensburg and sister Rhonda Taylor of Olalla.

A private family service is planned.