Our loving wife and mother, Sue Axtell, passed away peacefully at her home on September 2, 2022, after a brave battle with cancer.
Sue was born in Elgin, Illinois, on February 28, 1945, to Mary Jane Kells and Norris Kells as the oldest of three children. Her father had a respected career in the military which gave Sue the opportunity to live in several countries including England, Germany, and Japan as a child. Upon returning to the United States, Sue was able to experience a lot of the country as she moved around living at various Air Force bases.
After graduating from high school, Sue attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a degree in accounting. While at BYU, Sue married Don Davis and together they had two children. Sue and Don separated in the late 1980s.
While playing golf, Sue was blessed beyond belief to meet Jay Axtell and the two were married in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their shared love of golf took them to some amazing destinations including Jamaica, Mexico, Hawaii and many other areas of the United States.
Sue was a Moab resident for more than 50 years. Sue worked for Turner Lumber in her early Moab years before being employed by Atlas Minerals. Sue eventually retired from work while employed by the Canyonlands Natural History Association.
Sue was a loving, compassionate and loyal friend. She was a member of Alpha Rho, which she loved because it provided her an opportunity to be of service to the Moab community and also because it gave her time with dear friends. Sue feels blessed to have had so many great friends and fond memories of her time spent with Jay, her family, and her friends.
Sue is survived by her loving husband of 28 years, Jay Axtell; her brother, David (Valerie) Kells of Hawaii; her sister, Tina Kaiser of Louisville, Kentucky; her two children, Krista (Mike) Fogarty of Salt Lake City and Doug (Tahne) Davis of Seattle; Jay’s children, Jay (Cheryl) Axtell of Castle Rock, Colorado, and Janet (Stoney) Ballard of Muskogee, Oklahoma; and by her eight grandchildren.
Sue was preceded in death by her father, Norris, and her mother, Mary Kells.
As Sue requested, cremation has taken place and a private life celebration will be had at a later date. In lieu of flowers, if you feel compelled please send donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
You may send condolences to the family at www.spanishvalleymortuary.com.
