Mrs. Susie Myrtle Hitchcock Young O'Mary, age 96, of Winfield, passed away Monday, September 30, 2019 at her residence.  Susie was born on November 23, 1922 to John O. and Susie Davis Hitchcock and raised on a farm in Mansfield, Ga.

She married John B. “JB” Young in 1938 and they raised three children in Georgia - in Monroe (1938 to 1956), Winder (1956 to 1961) and East Point (1961 to 1977).

Mrs. O’Mary was employed by textiles companies in Monroe, Winder and East Point, starting in sewing and rising to supervisor at Cluett Peabody & Company (Arrow Shirts) in East Point.

In 1977, after the death of her husband in 1975, Susie met Dr. Clayton C. O’Mary, who was a professor in the Department of Agriculture at Berry College in Rome, Ga. After a whirlwind romance, Susie and Clayton married in December 1977.

When Clayton retired in 1982, they moved to Fayette County, Ala., where they built their dream home and lived in the country. After a tornado destroyed their home in November 2002, when Susie was 80 years old and Clayton was 82, they moved to their home in Winfield.

Susie was a fan of all sports, gospel music, travel, contests and was an excellent baker. She made delicious coconut cake and chocolate-covered coconut candy. She traveled throughout the United States at various points of her life. She deeply loved Hawaii, where she had visited before meeting Clayton. She wanted desperately to return to Hawaii with Clayton. In the early 1990s, her dream came true when they won the grand prize trip to Hawaii from “Live with Regis & Kathie Lee” show. Susie and Clayton spent a week enjoying the tropical paradise and appearing on telecasts of the show, including an episode in which she served as a “bodyguard” for Regis Philbin. Susie won many local contests in her life, including prizes such as a live turkey and a miniature car.

Susie loved her family and friends with passion and was gracious and open to strangers. She loved to tell stories of the past and always had a funny story or a joke to make others laugh and smile. She was a devout Christian and a member of Poplar Springs Primitive Baptist Church of 37 years

Mrs. O’Mary is survived by her husband of almost 42 years, Dr. Clayton C. O’Mary, son, David Young (Theresa) of Alexander City, stepsons, Thomas O’Mary of Winfield and Gary O’Mary (Sharon) of San Diego, CA,; 13 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, Katrina Kole, Sacramento, Calif., Donna Ealey, Kissimmee, Fla., Jennifer Estrada, Artesia, N.M. (children: Kayla Webb [Edward and Blakely Webb], Diego Estrada and Jessica Estrada [Lee and Gabriella Donley and Braxton Walker]), Trigie Ealey, Arlington, Va. (Nick Walkosak, and son: Vaughan), Jessica Tyler, Waleska, Ga. (Todd Tyler, and children: Emma, Max and Abby), Josh Young, Orlando, Fla., Brett Young, Tuscaloosa, Ala. (Laura Young, and children: Anglin, Millie and Beckett), Nicholas Young, Orlando, Fla. (Lisa Young, and children: Harrison and Callie), Will Tampling, Alexander City, Ala. (Leigh Tampling, and children: Madeleine, Johnson and Amelia), Leigh Yearkey, Alexander City, Ala. (Steven Yearkey, and children: Caroline and Claire), Erin Ocampo, San Diego, Calif. (Ryan Ocampo, and children: Eva and Clayton), Brendan O’Mary, San Diego, Calif., Kevin O’Mary, Galveston, Texas (Nikki O’Mary, and children: Reese and Sadie), and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, John Olin Hitchcock and Susie Davis Hitchcock, daughter, Judith Ealey (Lloyd), son, John O. Young, a husband, John B. Young, sisters, Francis Thompson (Harley), Ruth Tidwell (George), Ruby Wiggins (Gerald), Nealie Scarbroagh (John), brothers, Jim Hitchcock (Zell), Henry Hitchcock (Wilma), Allen Hitchcock (Grace) and a granddaughter, Jacquelyn D. Ealey.

Funeral services for Mrs. O’Mary will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. from the Bowen Funeral Home chapel with burial to follow in the Fayette Heritage Memorial Gardens. Brother Bobby Paine will be the officiating minister. The visitation will be on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (service time) at the funeral home. Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield serving the O’Mary family.