SAN MARCOS, Texas — It's a final chance to say goodbye.
Those who are familiar with San Marcos and Texas State University may recognize "Miss Susie." Students gave her the nickname "the Viking Goddess" because of her braids and sternness with the rules.
She was always on campus, making people smile or giving out encouragement.
Now "Miss Susie" is in hospice care and has been taken off of life support. Her friends said that they felt that was the best decision for her to no longer be in pain.
KVUE's Hank Cavagnaro talked with one of her close friends, Millicent Dorsett, who wanted to share Susie's story.
"Who is she? Susan Mullen is a San Marcos Native...Graduated from Texas State University...She is a shining example of what a Bobcat is," Dorsett said.
Dorsett said she and Susie had been friends since she moved to San Marcos and to her, Susie is a second mother.
"I knew of Susie before I knew Susie...I was a freshman on campus...I went through her lines on Jones Dining Hall," Dorsett said.
Susie was a cashier at the dining hall and other spots on campus for more than a decade. Many students remember her for her smile and personality.
"It was her mission to greet everyone with a smile and to make sure that no matter [what] moment of time they were in her line that someone cared how their day was going," Dorsett said. "Some people know her as the sweetest lady on campus, and she is all those things, but she was so much more...She makes cards for the food bank and sells them on the quad."
Dorsett is referring to the Valentine's Day cards Susie would make for students to buy. All the proceeds went directly to the Hays County Food Bank.
"Throughout her life, she's had some health stuff and lately, it's just been, it's just gone downhill...She's no longer on life support," Dorsett said. "You know, Susie lived a great life, she's still living this great life right now...We just feel that was the best decision to make for her."
"Susie's been named 'the Viking Goddess'...Susie's always had her hair in braids...And literally, she would wear her Viking helmet...She was proud to be the Viking Goddess," Dorsett added.
The story behind the nickname started with some students. They felt she was hard on them when they had selections that didn't quite meet the school's definition for lunch. That mixed with the braids led to a photoshop of Susie on a Viking body.
For her, the nickname just felt right.
"A fan page has started some pre-sale on some t-shirts that have got an animated Susie with her Viking goddess horns or helmet, and I love it," Dorsett said.
"But who is Susie? Susie is a mother to everyone, that's what she wanted to do, she wanted to make sure everyone was taken care of," Dorsett added.
If you would like to say goodbye, you can visit Susie at the Central Texas Medical Center at 1301 Wonder World Dr, San Marcos, TX 78666.