Suzanne Byrd

Suzanne M. Byrd of Port Washington was a homebody who adored her longtime pet, a chihuahua named Petey.

He was the light of her life, and they were constant companions for 17 years.When Ms. Byrd had to euthanize him recently it broke her heart, her mother Mary Garrelts said.

Ms. Byrd, 59, died unexpectedly Wednesday, Dec. 26, while working at Ozaukee Press.

A native of Elgin, Ill., Ms. Byrd was born on Sept. 18, 1959, to Ronald and Mary Cook Garrelts.

She grew up in Elgin, but when she was a teenager the family moved to Minnesota. She graduated from Kellogg High School in Roseville, Minn., in 1977.

Ms. Byrd worked for Kemp’s in Minnesota before moving to Port Washington to work for the dairy in Wisconsin 11 years ago, her mother said.

She went to work for Port Publications and Ozaukee Press two years ago.

“She loved living in Port,” her mother said. “It’s such a quaint little town.”

Ms. Byrd enjoyed sitting by the campfire with her neighbors in Port, her mother added.

Ms. Byrd is survived by her parents Mary Garrelts of Armstrong Creek and Ronald Garrelts of Green Bay, her brother Mark of Armstrong Creek and half-sister Eden Garrelts of Florida.

A memorial gathering was held Saturday, Dec. 29, at the Holiday Inn Harborview in Port Washington.

A service for immediate family members will be held in the future.