Dorothy "Susie" Marie Pritchett

Dorothy Marie "Susie" Pritchett peacefully passed away in her sleep on June 9, 2025. She was 97 years old. She was born at home, in Napa, to Dewey D. and Musa Dora "Dorothy" Andersen on February 11, 1928. Susie graduated from Napa High School and Napa Junior College. She met her late husband (James) Foster Pritchett in her high school English class. They were married 68 years at the time of his passing. They used to say often that they were "crazy in love."

Foster and Susie made their home in Napa, where they raised their three girls, Lynn, Shelly and Cindy. Susie was involved in the girl's schools from the time they started kindergarten until they graduated high school. In 1972, while serving Napa High as Parent Teacher Student Association President, Susie was awarded the honor of parent of the year. Susie was also very active in First Presbyterian Church of Napa, serving as a Sunday school teacher for many years and on the Board of Elders and Deacons Committee.

Susie was a 70 year member of The Order of Eastern Star in Napa as well as a past member of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls. She served as music director for Jobs Daughters in Napa for many years, while her daughters were involved. Susie was a long time member of PEO in Napa.

Boating was a big part of Foster and Susie's life. They were both Commodores of the Napa Yacht Club, Foster serving as the founding Commodore. Enjoying boating for many years, they moved to the Napa Yacht Club in 1995, where their boat could be docked at their back door, for frequent trips down the Napa River and to the Delta and Bay Areas. Susie was Commander of the Napa Coastguard auxiliary, and spent many enjoyable hours examining boats in Napa.

They spent many years enjoying the family cabin, built by Susie's father Dewey, in 1936. When the cabin was destroyed by a forest fire in 2001, Foster built Susie the log home she had always dreamed of having. The family has spent many happy vacations at "the cabin" and has always referred to it as "our happy place."

Susie's first priority was to her family; setting an extraordinary example of elegance and grace. She was kind and compassionate to everyone she met and especially to the elderly. She volunteered making birthday cakes and taking them to the County Infirmary, where she would bring her girls, so that they could visit the people there. She always had "some poor soul" as she would say that she would visit and her girls would go along with her. This has taught her daughters to be respectful and kind to others.

A long time goal for Susie was to become part of The Daughters of the American Revolution. She collected photos and interviewed relatives about her ancestors and kept detailed records of her findings. In 2012 she was able to document her lineage back to the Revolutionary War and found her 3rd Great Grandfather who had served. She, along with daughters Cindy and Shelly as well as Granddaughter Allison, are all members of the DAR.

In 2005, Susie and her husband moved to Orland to be close to daughter Shelly. She and Foster enjoyed 12 years on their country property, enjoying their fruit orchard, pool and beautiful landscaping. They moved to Santa Rosa in 2016 to be close to daughter Cindy and husband Kevin. At that time they moved to Villa Capri. Foster passed away one month later. Susie filled her time with other residents there and became very active in all the activities offered. She became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Santa Rosa, and served, along with youngest daughter, Cindy on the board of Deacons. One year later, Susie would lose everything she owned in the Tubbs fire. It was then that she decided that she would move next door to Cindy and Kevin and live in their Granny unit. It was "in her Granny" that Susie spent her remaining years; enjoying her garden and playing with her dog Lucy.

Susie is survived by her Daughters Lynn Pritchett of Oregon, Shelly Rossi (Bill) of Orland, and Cindy Lee (Kevin) of Santa Rosa, Grand children, Patrick Sweeney and Shawn Newman of Oregon, William Rossi and Allison Ferrasci (David) of Orland, Jonathan Lee (Kelsey) of South Carolina, Brenna Lee and Faith Lee, both of Santa Rosa, and 9 Great grandchildren.

Services will be held in the Chapel at Tulocay Mortuary 411 Coombsville Road in Napa, on Tuesday June 24 at 11:00am. A reception will follow.

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