Connie Sue Horton

Connie Sue Horton passed peacefully at home surrounded by her family. She was a beloved mother, wife, sister, and dog grandma. She is preceded in death by her husband and soulmate, Sam Horton, Jr., who passed in 2022 after 52 years of marriage. She is survived by her daughter, Kyle, and fur grandchildren, Dudley and Fennec, who considered her their best friend.


Connie was always a smart, talented, and athletic person. Back in the days when there were few women’s organized sports, she was chosen to cheerlead for both varsity football and basketball. No doubt she brought joy to others with her tremendous spirit, rhythm, and love of dance. She retained her love of 60s music, particularly Motown, throughout her entire life. She told stories of tending bar for live music at the MaJaGa in Yellow Springs, and of entering dance contests with Sam’s friends because he was blessed with two left feet.


Despite their differences in dancing skill, Sam and Connie danced through life for over 50 years and undoubtedly are still dancing together. After meeting in high school, they eloped at 19 in Erlanger, Kentucky. The love they had for one another shone through in all they did, and it’s a love that was evident to all who knew them. Both were extremely fun and outstanding party hosts: Their home in Centerville, Ohio, became a host site for frequent volleyball parties, several luaus, and even a wedding. As they aged, they never stopped being the fun, active, music-loving duo they had always been. As Sam always said, the secret to their marriage was that he married his best friend.

Through everything in her life, Connie excelled because she was undeniably hardworking, smart and capable. She was hired at GM when she was too young, after lying about her age, but she achieved at the company anyway. She was soon relied on to float through jobs on the assembly line because she could quickly adapt and do anything. After taking early retirement at GM, she went to school for interior design and sold real estate, which drew on her tremendous talents for design and decorating.


Connie was the consummate Supermom and her talent for crafts, interior decorating, and party hosting earned her status as the family’s Martha Stewart, because she could do everything. Her generosity and caring nature meant that she was always the willing team mom, packing the 50-lb cooler with healthy snacks for the entire team and staying up late to wash all the team jerseys at tournaments. She was always up to carpool for volleyball practices and to attend the Girl Scout campouts.


To her daughter, she was a best friend, confidant, and the model of how to love unconditionally. They had endless good times over the years, including spur of the moment mini-adventures that often included her sister Sherry and her nephews, Randy and Derek. Connie would let Kyle skip school on a Friday to go away somewhere for the weekend on a trip. The girls’ trips were almost always spontaneous and filled with laughter, fun and music. They traipsed through a foot of snow in downtown Chicago and browsed for what would now be a $250,000 Bentley. They frequented the disco to dance the night away on a

Caribbean cruise, bused into Puerto Vallarta downtown for Fiestas, and club hopped in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico where they heard Sammy Haggar play.


With such a joyful spirit, it is no surprise that Connie continued to gain fans and admirers even while suffering with dementia. For her daughter and her grand pups, she remained just as great a friend, mom, and grandma even though they may not have understood her words. She spoke volumes with her generous smile, laugh, and of course, her dancing. Her daughter, Kyle, remained endlessly proud to share her mom’s dancing through videos on social media. It was no surprise to her that her strong and talented mom would exemplify joy, grace, and humor right up almost until the end.


We know our dancing queen is with her beloved Sam. Her daughter and fur grandchildren go on, knowing their days will never be quite as full as they were when they were graced every day by Connie’s presence. Her family hopes their Suzie Q’s endless love, energy, and will to dance through every moment in life, no matter how dark or difficult, will serve as her legacy and continue to spread joy to others long after her passing.


In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for her daughter’s nonprofit. Checks can be made out to On Your Side Health and mailed to:


On Your Side Health

3628 Daufuskie Dr

Wilmington, NC 28412