Suzanne Searle Dixon, 91, Lake Forest

Sue Dixon has been described by those who knew her as: “A Force of Nature”, a “One-of-a-Kind, an “Original.”

She lived life to the fullest, right up until the end of her life on August 19, 2022. She was 91. Her daughters and devoted caregiver were with her at the end.

Sue liked to be in charge of things and liked everything to go according to her plan. She herself hand-wrote the key elements of her obituary, and it is a remarkable document, documenting a life well-lived.
Sue was born in Chicago in 1931, but became a real North Shore girl, growing up in Winnetka and Lake Forest, which she called home for her entire life. She was the daughter of John G. and Frances C. Searle, whose family business, GD Searle and Co., was prominent in international pharmaceuticals.
She attended North Shore Country Day School, and enjoyed a happy childhood full of friends, dogs, and horses.
She then attended Westover School in CT, graduating in the Class of 1949, and she remained a supporter of the all-girls school throughout her life.
Sue then attended Bennett Junior College, and then went on to the American Academy of Design graduating in 1952. She kept a wonderful portfolio of her work, but her career as an artist was cut short when she met the love of her life, Wesley M. Dixon Jr.
Wes and Sue were married in 1953 and celebrated 61 amazing years together until Wes’s death in 2014. They travelled extensively, shared many interests and passions, and were both hugely engaged in their community. They had three wonderful children.
Throughout her life, Sue was actively involved in many renowned institutions, most of them Chicago and Lake Forest-based. She served on the Women’s Board of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Women’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and she was the first woman to serve on the Board of Directors of Northwestern University.
One of Sue’s favorite organizations was Lake Forest Open Lands, where she was the first woman to serve as chair and was a Life Board member, affectionately nicknamed “The Prairie Queen” by those involved who knew her well. Her daily excursions into the prairies near her home gave her joy and excitement throughout her entire life.
Also, she was deeply involved with and dedicated to the Board of the Chicago Botanical Gardens, which was a favorite place to visit at all times of year and as often as possible.
Sue was a member of the Lake Forest Garden Club, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest.
Her love of horses led to a passion for breeding Arabians, which she bred successfully for many years in Nevada. The thrill of winning the National Reining Championship in 2000 merited an entry in her hand-written obituary.
Sue was an avid bird-hunter, and together with generations of Golden Retrievers, was never happier than in a duck blind looking for ducks or a corn field looking for pheasants, but grouse shooting in northern Michigan was perhaps her most favorite activity of all. Towards the end of her life her backyard birds gave her enormous pleasure, and recently she took up bee-keeping (with the help of some local experts). She was a true outdoors person and lover of nature.
Sue was a member of Shikar Safari Club International.
Sue is survived by her children, Karie Thomson (David), Rocky Dixon (Julie), and Lynn Loacker (the late Jack). She has five grandsons and seven greatgrandchildren.
The names of her beloved Golden Retrievers that kept her company for 60+ years are too numerous to mention.
A memorial celebration will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Forest on November 19 at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to:
Lake Forest Open Lands, The Chicago Botanical Gardens, or Northwestern Memorial Foundation (Dixon Translational Research Grants Fund).

Info: Wenban Funeral Home, www.wenbanfh.com or (847)234-0022.