Susan Morrow Skewes, 58, beloved wife of Frank A. Skewes, Jr. passed away at her home in Niantic on Thursday, June 20, 2013. She died of breast cancer diagnosed 4-1/2 years ago.

Susan was born September 23, 1954 in Middletown, the daughter of Richard M. and the late Lillian (Scully) Morrow of Deep River. She was married to Frank A. Skewes, Jr. on January 19, 1980.

Sue started her nursing career as an LPN, and later became a registered nurse through Mohegan Community College in Norwich. She worked for many years at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital and finished her career in the Rheumatology clinic at the Backus Outpatient Care Center in Norwich. While employed at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, Sue became the Orthopedic Nurse Clinician and became very interested in wound and skin care while treating her patients. After much research on wound care she developed skin care protocols that significantly reduced the incidence and severity of bed sores in her patients. She developed a new patient bathing practice that became known as the Bag Bath. The hospital adopted the bag bath through the entire hospital. In concert with Incline Technologies, Sue helped develop a marketable product for the health care industry which is still manufactured and distributed today at Apodan, LLC in Denmark. Susan held a U.S. Patent for the Bag Bath as its inventor. As the Vice President at Incline Technologies, Sue began a 12-year adventure, with trips to England, Germany and Denmark marketing and supporting Bag Bath.

Sue’s hobbies included Golf (she had a hole-in-one on hole 12 at Shennecosset Golf Course), Boating with cruises to Cuttyhunk, Marthas Vineyard, Nantucket and Provincetown, Fishing (she holds the family record for fluke with the catch of a 29-inch monster weighing over 10 pounds), Stained Glass, Gardening, Cooking, and Reading. She was also a volunteer with the Southeastern CT Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Susie was a true Renaissance Woman; she never stopped trying to learn more about life and what it had to offer.

She had a great sense of humor and a way with people that was endearing. She had a large extended family and many lifelong friends; She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and loved her.

She is survived by her huband Frank; her father Richard M. Morrow and step-mother Jean of Chester, her brother Rick Morrow and his wife Lorrie of Chester; step-brother Mike Riley of Deep River; step-sister Patty Riley of Chester; sister-in-law Beverly DeFord and her husband Marty of Niantic; brother-in-law Alan Skewes and his wife Sharon of D’Iberville, Mississippi, sister-in law Jacki Wright and her husband Ralph of Morgan, Utah; sister-in law Elaine Reeves and her husband Tim of Las Cruces, New Mexico; brother-in-law Gary Skewes of Washington State, sister-in-law Jeneen Skewes of Cromwell, CT, and 15 nieces and nephews, and 17 grand nieces and grand nephews. She also leaves behind her close friends Robie Grzyb of East Lyme and Debbie Gillig of Niantic.

Susan was predeceased by her mother Lillian Morrow in 1981.

There are no visiting hours. Interment will be private.

Thomas L. Neilan & Sons of Niantic are assisting the family with arrangements.

Sincere thanks to Dr. Vanessa Johnson and the entire staff at Oncology and Hematology Associates in New London, and to the Center for Hospice Care of Southeast Connecticut, especially Dawn, Sue’s visiting RN.

Memorial donations can be made to the Terri Brodeur Breast Cancer Foundation, or the the charity of the donor’s choice.