Susan was born September 21, 1952, in Starkville, MS, to Jack Curry Kean, Jr. and Eloise Wolfe Kean. She graduated from Starkville High School, and attended Mississippi University for Women. She worked for the Mississippi Department of Audit in Jackson for several years, and after she and her husband moved to Louisville, she was involved as a volunteer coach in many aspects of the basketball program at Winston Academy. She was a member of the Starkville High School 1967-68 Overall Girls’ Basketball State Championship Team. After being diagnosed with ALS, she courageously accomplished a bucket list feat by riding mules on the Bright Anger Tail in the Grand Canyon (20 miles). Susan was instrumental in the beautification of downtown Louisville with hanging baskets and flower pots, and was awarded Winston County Economic Development Woman of the Year in 2010 and in 2013. She was voted a lifetime member of the Louisville Garden Club in 2020. She enjoyed going to local car shows and was honored to lead Louisville’s Christmas Parade as Grand Marshal in her grandfather Pop’s restored 1948 Packard. She loved all outdoor activities including talking to her chickens, dogs, cats, horse, miniature donkey, Otis, and her Quaker parrot, Amos.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Michael Ard of Louisville; two daughters, Erin Ard and her husband, Thomas Lamey, of Salisbury, MD, and Anna Ard of Taylorsville, MS; a sister, Rebecca Kean (Tom) Starling of Jackson, MS; two brothers, Jack Curry (Lois) Kean, III, of Pelham, AL, and Steven Thomas (Elizabeth) Kean of Brandon, MS; two grandchildren, Camille Louise Lamey and Julian Lyle Lamey, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
Pallbearers will be Casey Smith, Fred Nabers, Johnny Johnson, Adam Napier, Zac Couture, Joe Ward, Michael Starling, and Grayson Taylor.
Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Taylor, Phil Fancher, TJ Jennings, Chicken Dempsey, Dan Curran, Farrell Rigby, Justin Starling, James Ashley, David Gookin, and Jack Van Kean.
Memorials may be made to the Baptist Children’s Village or French Camp Academy.
