Susan Halton Valentine

Sue was a delightful, fun-loving, friendly, creative lady who saw the entire world through artistic eyes.  She loved sunsets, shadows, clouds, and the simple beauty of a distant tree at dusk. Sue always noticed and often commented on the lighting of an everyday scene, one the rest of us would typically not notice.  Similarly, Sue saw beauty in those around her, even when not apparent to others, and as such, made friends everywhere she went.

Sue was the daughter of “Mitt” Halton and Dorothy Amstrong, grew up in Salt Lake City, and had many friends from the Avenues area and West High School.  Family was important to Sue and she has always been particularly close to her siblings.

Though Sue was a strong, independent woman, at a young age she met and married her lifelong closest confidant and constant companion, Kaye Valentine.  The two shared nearly 65 years together before Kaye’s death in early 2019.  They were partners in everything, from raising their daughters, building a cabin as a family project, improving the beautiful homes they lived in, to collecting cars, and supporting the Arts.  The two were never very far apart, particularly in their retirement years.

Sue and Kaye raised three beautiful daughters, Sydney, Susan, and Stefany, with whom they have always remained close.  It was important to Sue that her daughters were social and physically active.  Summer mornings often found them on their way to tennis lessons before 7:00 AM. They were encouraged to and always had friends at the house.  Sue instilled a strong love of Art in her daughters.  

Sue lost both of her parents when she still had a young family, but she and her siblings remained very close.  They and their children had regular weekend canyon outings, annual Christmas Parties, Easter Brunch, regular trips to favorite restaurants, ski and snowmobiling trips.

Always creative, Sue became the artistic force and entrepreneur behind the creation of Apple Yard Art, an art gallery and gift shop which she owned and operated for more than 20 years.  Sue served as President of the Utah Water Color Society and was an Art Access Mentor.  During this same period, Sue expanded her love of drawing to studies of painting in several media.  She met, became friends with, and often traveled and painted with a group of local artists.

Kaye and Sue moved to a new neighborhood in the late 1980’s where they met and shared fun, comradery, evenings and dinners together with the best collection of neighbors anywhere.

Nana Sue and Papa Kaye have three wonderful grandchildren whom they loved and enjoyed spending a great deal of time with when the children were young.  She considered herself very lucky to have had the opportunity to watch them grow into the amazing adults they have become.  

In 2016 Sue was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease facing its challenges without complaint.  She again made new friends through Parkinson’s workshops, weekly exercise and speech classes.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband Kaye; granddaughter Zoe Valentine-Cook; parents; brothers Milton Halton and Sidney Halton; sister Dorothy (Halton) Leathers; and brothers-in-law Ron Sevey and Lyman Littlefield. 

Survived by daughters Sydney Valentine Stuck (Keith), Susan Valentine, and Stefany Valentine-Cook (Les); grandchildren Cole Cook (Allie), Andrew Stuck, and Adison Cook; sisters Linda Sevey, Margaret Littlefield; and sister-in-law Sheryl Halton.

Everyone that knew Sue, family, friends, colleagues, and fellow artists, considered her special and have a void in our hearts today.  In the days to come, that void will be more than filled with the many fond memories Sue left with each of us.  Thank you, Sue.

We would especially like to thank the Team at Legacy Village of Sugarhouse for their care, and the wonderful community Sue enjoyed for the past three years.  A special thanks also to Sue’s great neighbors.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Sue at Red Butte Garden Orangerie, 300 Wakara Way, Friday, January 19^th, 5:00 to 8:00 PM.