Miriam Suzanne Abell Kiely, 87, passed away on January 11, 2017 in Westminster, Colorado.
Sue was born on December 8, 1929 to Dorothy and Wilbur J. Abell in Akron, Ohio.
Sue graduated from Purdue University in June 1951 with a B.S. degree in pharmacy and graduated from North
Texas State University in May of 1980 with an MBA degree with emphasis on marketing and finance.
She worked as a registered pharmacist from 1951-1970. From 1970-1976 she worked as a senior technician at
a Cardiac Function Laboratory in Atlanta, GA conducting cardiac research in conjunction with
cardiologists for which she was given credit in published medical journals.
From 1980-1986 Sue worked as a visiting assistant professor of marketing at New Mexico State University.
She taught marketing for the University of Maryland in its European Division from 1987-1988 at Ramstein,
Germany. Sue was then employed by Dillard’s as a sales consultant from 1988-1996 at the Tucson, AZ and
Las Cruces, NM stores.
Sue was highly active during her college years and recognized as an outstanding member of the community
throughout her life. She was the recipient of the Gold Peppers Award at Purdue University, a member of
Tri Kappa in Indiana, and a member and treasurer of Alpha Chi Omega national fraternity for women.
She received a Purdue women’s hockey scholarship, and was a member of Purdue’s women’s rifle team, hockey
team, bowling team, and university choir.
Sue was a sales manager for the Purdue Pharmacist, a student publication. She was chapter advisor to
Alpha Chi Omega at Duke University and at the University of Tennessee. Sue was also Province President
of Alpha Chi Omega Province IX, which included Texas Tech University, University of Arizona, and New
Mexico State University.
Throughout her retirement she enjoyed traveling and was an active participant in Volksmarch events.
While working as a pharmacist in Cleveland, Ohio, Suzanne met and married Emmet J. Thorpe, MD, in July
1952.
She is survived by her six daughters (Susan Thorpe Archer, Nancy Thorpe Calhoun, Jo Ann Thorpe Barnes,
Barbara Thorpe, Carol Thorpe Schoeppner and Patty Thorpe Ray); 12 grandchildren (Zachary and Matthew
Archer, Lauren Calhoun Capitini, Mason Calhoun and Taylor Calhoun, Jessica Barnes Reichow and Tammy
Barnes Browning, Trinity Thorpe Lubneuski, Collin and Ashton Schoeppner, Lacy Ray Brown and Hunter Ray)
and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her only sibling, Muriel Abell Buriff of
Vancouver, WA.
Sue was re-married in 1981 for 14 years to the late Colonel John J. Kiely Jr.
Funeral services will be held at Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas at an undetermined date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cremation Society of Colorado.
To send condolences or gain additional information regarding services please visit
www.cremationsocietyofco.com.