Susan Ely Carr

Susan Ely Carr lived a full and wonderful life. Her life began on June 18, 1951, when she was born the daughter of Johanne and J. Ely from New Augusta, Indiana. Her life ended on January 22, after a hard-fought battle against cancer.

Susan graduated in 1969 from Pike High School, where she was a pom-pom spirit marcher. She attended MacMurray College for a year and then entered Indiana University in the fall of 1970. At IU, she met her future (now "ex") husband, Jim Carr. Their daughter, Erin, was born in 1977 and, for the next 43 years, Erin was a marvel and Susan was a devoted and loving mother. After academics at Brebeuf and Vermont's Middlebury College, Erin dazzled audiences as an actress and comedian. In August 2011, Erin became a mother to the next giant star in Susan's heavenly firmament, Lillian Jane Adams (now 13). Nothing made Susan's heart glow brighter and warmer than the hug, sight or thought of her granddaughter Lilly.

Susan loved her jobs in television sales, first WFYI, then WNDY, and finally she found her home at WTHR. She was the ultimate salesperson. Her skills as a great listener and counselor made her extremely successful. Many years after retirement she still counted many colleagues and clients as good friends, a testament to her caring nature and incredible people skills.

Susan is survived by her loving brothers, Ralph and Jim Ely. Susan was incredibly proud of her brothers - Ralph, a real estate broker in Northern California, and Jim, a scientist and professor in Boulder, Colorado and later Mobile, Alabama. Their wives are Christine and Nika, again wonderful people. Susan loved her niece Melissa Ely and her nephews Christopher Ely and Brian Ely. She treasured Lilly's parents, Jason Adams and Jasmin Snyder, and her little sister Daphne.

Susan was blessed by having several dear, dear, dear friends, including Roberta Witchger, Phyllis Bishop, Kim Harper, and Valerie Votgner, who survive her. These friends stayed by her side through weeks of her final ordeal with cancer and cancer treatments. Susan was heart- breakingly preceded in death by her beloved daughter Erin, her parents, and by her dear friend Meg Emerson.

Susan wishes to thank the incredible health care professionals at IU North and sends her love to the nurses who lovingly cared for her and Erin during their long hospital stays.

At Susan's request, family and friends will gather to reminisce and celebrate Susan's life on June 21, 2025. The time and place will be announced.

In lieu of flowers, Susan requests that all support music, arts and theater in our schools. A special fund in honor of Susan has been established for donations to: Eastwood Middle School Choir Fund. Here's how:

Gifts in honor of Susan Ely Carr can be made online at www.wtsfoundation.orq/susan-ely-carr­ memorial-qivinq/ or by check payable to the Washington Township Schools Foundation: 8550 Woodfield Blvd. Indianapolis, IN 46240 noting Susan Ely Carr in the memo line. Gifts honoring Susan will support the Eastwood Middle School Choir Fund which bolsters the school's efforts to offer on inspiring environment for students to develop musical talent, confidence, and teamwork skills that will serve them for a lifetime.