Mary Sue Hackleman

Mary Sue Hackleman
1941 - 2025

Mary Sue Hackleman passed away on Sunday March 16th at the age of 84. Sue, as she was known to family and friends, was born to Cecil and Minnie Bowen on May 24, 1941 in Loco, Oklahoma. In 1943 Sue, her parents and older sister, Sylvia moved to California permanently and settled in the Greenfield area. Her brother, Cecil (Ed) joined the family in 1947. Their father built them a home at 212 McKee Road from a Sears catalog kit. The house still stands today across from the Greenfield Elementary School. Sue was a 1959 graduate of Bakersfield High School. Sue was introduced to her future husband, Norman Lee Hackleman in 1958 by her best friend, Rhonda MacGillivary. The couple were married June 23, 1959 in Bakersfield, after Sue finished high school. Her Father had passed away that February and was adamant that Sue finish school before they married and the couple honored his wishes. The couple welcomed sons,Terry in 1960 and Randy in 1964. Sue and Shorty (as he was known to family and friends), loved to travel. They took many trips to Las Vegas, Laughlin, Pismo, and the Grand Canyon. They took many trips with friends and family. They RV’d all the way to Canada for a World’s Fair, and camped in national and state parks across the US. They took a train trip to the East Coast and joined the annual family camping trips to Morro Bay and Pismo. Sue celebrated her 50th birthday with a trip to the Hawaiian Islands with her sister, Sylvia and niece, Karen in 1991. Sue and Norm loved Nascar racing and as a member of a local car club traveled to many in state and out of state car shows. Sue had worked for her in-laws’ local customer drapery shop, The Tupperware warehouse, and retired from American Greeting. She maintained the card displays at many local stores. Sue was an avid reader and exchanged books with her sister and friends. She also loved to crochet and made many lap blankets for rest homes as a member of Valley Baptist Church. Sue was preceded in death by her husband Norm, her sons Terry and Randy, her sister Sylvia Wyatt and niece Pam Doyle. Sue is survived by brother Ed (wife Cloeta), daughter-in-law Debra, her grandchildren Christina, Jefferey (wife Jacquelyn) and Robin,her great grandchildren Blayke and Elle. She is also survived by nieces Karen Wyatt, Donna Wyatt (husband Bob Jones), Tracey Spears, her son Colby (wife Taylor), their children Saige and Beckham, Mary Norton (husband Mike), their children Lizzie (husband Kyle), Myka and Nate, great niece Michelle Fambrough (husband Eric), their children Wesley, Ella, and Sophia. And great nephew Christian (wife Sandy). Sue was loved very much by her family and friends. She will be greatly missed. But we know that Sue will be with her beloved Norm again as she will share his final resting place at the Bakersfield National Cemetery.