Susan Ricks

Susan Leigh Ricks passed away in Dallas on October 1, 2025, at the age of 85. Susan was born on June 21, 1940, in Tulsa, OK to Pauline C. and James H. Gephart. Susan spent most of her childhood in Tulsa with frequent visits to her grandparents in Sapulpa. She was a gifted child who learned to play classical music on the piano at an early age, performing Chopin's Nocturne in E-Flat Major by the age of 10.

Her family moved to Fort Worth, TX in 1951, and Susan graduated valedictorian from Paschal High School in 1958. She attended TCU for 2 years before moving to Houston to start her life. There, she met Sam Ricks, and together, they had three children: Liz, James, and David. In the 1970s, Susan went back to school to complete her education. She attended the University of Texas at Dallas where she earned a BS in 1976. She went on to graduate school and received her MS graduating Summa Cum Laude from Southern Methodist University in 1978.

Anyone who knew Susan even briefly knew she was a thespian at heart and loved the theater, especially musical theater! She was in theater in high school and at TCU. She went on to volunteer as the stage manager for many musical productions at UTD while earning her degree there. She kept every Playbill and program from the shows she attended including all show productions and recitals of her four granddaughters.

Susan enjoyed a successful 30-year career in media before retiring. She began her media career at Bozell & Jacobs working alongside her sister, Beth. From Bozell & Jacobs, she went on to Berry Brown Advertising which led her to her dream job at Dr Pepper in 1983. It was the perfect company because of her lifelong love of Diet Dr Pepper, and she was often found with the original blue DDP can in her hand! She especially loved working at the original location on Mockingbird Lane because the sweet aroma of Dr Pepper greeted you as you walked through the door. Susan rose to the position of Vice President of Media and retired in 2004 after 20+ years of service.

Retirement gave Susan the freedom to travel the world!! Her travels included trips to Egypt, Thailand, Cuba, Panama, multiple trips to Europe including a month-long stay in Paris. One of her favorite trips was her annual Turner Classic Movie cruise with Beth. When she wasn't off to some exotic locale, Susan loved being Gran to her precious granddaughters. If one of her granddaughters was on a field or stage, Susan was there.

The family would like to extend their immense gratitude to Presbyterian Hospital and their staff for taking care of our mom. Susan is survived by her sister Beth Gephart; her children Elizabeth Ricks Laningham (Ron), James Ricks (Marla), David Ricks; her grandchildren Samantha Weir (Tyler), Sara Ricks, Kristen Ricks, Kylie Laningham; her great granddaughter Anderson Weir and great grandson Wade Weir along with extended family, and friends who have become family. Susan is preceded in death by her parents, Pauline and James Gephart, and her older brother, John Arthur Smoot.

As a lifelong patron of the arts, the family requests that donations be made to The Dallas Children's Theater (dct.org) in lieu of flowers. A celebration of Susan's life will be held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at The Lakes of Castle Hills, 699 Lady of the Lake Blvd, Lewisville, TX, 75056.

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