Susan Lanier Davis Hasten

Susan Lanier Davis Hasten passed away April 22, after a long series of illnesses in Longview, Texas. Susan was born May 7, 1954, to long-time Gilmer residents Sue and Tom Davis. She was a member of First Baptist Church Gilmer and attended Gilmer schools, where she was a majorette. Susan married Gilmer native Ben Hasten in 1970, and they were married for 41 years and had three daughters before his death in 2011.

Ben and Susan relocated to Houston, where Ben began his career as a stock broker, and Susan was a devoted homemaker. They moved from Houston to Dallas where Susan was an active mom while their daughters attended and graduated from Highland Park schools.

Ben’s career took them to Colorado when they were empty nesters. Susan became a strong supporter of the Denver community. She was a member of the Women’s Symphony League (WSL) and served as chair for their annual fundraiser. She used her impressive decorating skills to stage homes for the WSL Christmas tour. She supported Ben’s passion for wildlife conservation by hosting many meetings, dinners, and events. Ben and Susan traveled extensively and filled their home with paintings and artifacts from four continents.

Susan’s love for animals is well known and includes bottle-feeding abandoned kittens and feeding and protecting a turtle that showed up in her back yard for 20 years. She adored her grandchildren, and she was never reluctant to share their latest photos. After Ben’s death she returned to East Texas where she enjoyed visiting with friends and family, playing bridge and meeting with her book club.

Susan is preceded in death by her husband, her mother, and her brother Tim Davis. She is survived by daughters Dana Hasten Attlan and husband Charlie, Jenny Hasten, Jessica Hasten, her father Tom Davis and wife Linda, sister Liz Davis Burns, sister-in-law Sharon Hasten Penfold and husband Craig, and grandchildren Nicolas Jones, Audrey Attlan, and Juliette Attlan. She is also survived by Ben’s foster brothers Jack, Jeff, and Charlie Baird and their families, as well as her nieces and nephews and many friends. Memorials may be made to Wild Animal Sanctuary or the charity of your choice. A memorial service will be held in early June.