Susan Ulm Lauer

January 13, 1950 – January 11, 2026

Susan Ulm Lauer—beloved mother, generous friend, curious traveler, and lifelong lover of stories—passed away peacefully in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 11, 2026, just two days shy of her 76th birthday.

She is survived by her son, Alan Lauer, her daughter-in-law, Dollie Hodges, her brother, Steve Ulm, and her cats, Missy and Charlie, along with a wide circle of friends, colleagues, fellow readers, travelers, and couch surfers whose lives she quietly and meaningfully enriched.

Susan’s life was shaped by curiosity. She studied literature in college and remained a devoted reader throughout her life, finishing hundreds of books in recent years alone. She loved sharing the joy of a good story.

Her adventurous spirit took her far and wide—from Saudi Arabia in the 1970s, a bold journey for a woman at the time, to travels across Europe, Tunisia, Japan, and Guatemala. Wherever she went, she approached new places with openness, respect, and wonder.

At home, Susan was a gracious host whose dining room was a gathering place. She loved to cook and share food, and many will fondly remember her Christmas cookies, squash casserole, and cherished knödel, dishes that carried warmth and tradition.

Susan delighted in creativity and loved inviting others to create alongside her—pour painting, beads, clay, and whatever new craft had caught her interest. She believed creativity was meant to be shared.

She cared deeply about community, organizing an Empty Nesters meetup group, hosting a book club, and volunteering with CASA of Tarrant County and the Fort Worth Symphony. She showed up consistently and thoughtfully for the people and causes she believed in.

Susan was also a hard worker, admired by colleagues for her reliability, calm competence, and generosity with her knowledge. She was famously a wizard with Excel, solving problems others thought impossible and doing so with patience and good humor.

Susan lived by a philosophy she loved from Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure: “Be excellent to each other… and party on.” She truly believed in kindness, compassion, and enjoying life’s moments—and she practiced that belief every day.

Susan Ulm Lauer will be remembered for her curiosity, hospitality, creativity, and quiet excellence. She showed us that a good life is built from books and travel, shared meals and shared supplies, hard work and open hearts—and above all, from being excellent to each other.

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