Susan Brauer of Altamont

Susan Brauer, of Altamont, died Monday, November 22 at Altamont Lutheran Care,

Funeral arrangements are pending at Kull Funeral Chapel in Altamont.

Susan Brauer served as an administrative assistant to the Midwest Speed Sale Co. and Illini Classic Sale Co. from 1981-2021, including roles as office manager and supervisor of publications. Her knowledge of publishing software made her one of the leading, private contractors for production of auction catalogs in the Standardbred industry in the Midwest.

Susan's love of horse racing also led her to serve as Clerk of the Course for Standardbred and Thoroughbred racing at the Effingham County from 1983-1985, before ascending to the role of Superintendent of Speed in 1986.

Susan inherited her love of horses from her father, Fred Ruff, who showed a champion string of mules and draft horses on the Midwestern fair circuit. Susan once recalled that her father had worked with heavy horses in the oil fields of Fayette County before developing his fleet of show horses, and she fondly remembered helping her dad with his show string at the Effingham County Fair when she was a child. At the time, mules and heavy horses were quartered during fair week on the site which is now occupied by the Schuetzenfest Building. 

Susan also enjoyed the thrill of owning racehorses, with one of her most memorable victories coming at the 1989 Effingham County Fair with Stardust Alert, a pacer she owned in partnership with her mother, Oma Ruff. 

She is survived by son, Robert (Bob) Ray Huffman of Mattoon, daughter Richelle (Ricki) Ree (husband Richard) Morrison of Beecher City; grandchildren, Matthew Allen (wife Kara) Morrison and Michael Scott (wife Jennifer) Morrison of Beecher City; great-grandchildren, Wade Allen (fiance Miranda Gomez) Morrison, son of Matthew Morrison and Misty Hahn; Malayknee K. Morrison and Hallye Marie Morrison, daughters of Rachael Bell and Michael Morrison; Lane Byron Cox and Brody Allen Cox, sons of Jennifer Morrison and Brian Cox; Eden Eclipse Morrison and Judah Stone Morrison, children of Matthew Morrison and Kara Morrison; special granddaughters, Rachael Natasha Bell and daughter Nova Rayne Bo Bell and sister, Lois May Henry.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jackie R. Huffman in 1954 and Carl Edward Bauer in 2014; parents, Fred C. and Oma D. Wade Ruff and sister, Wilma (Billie) Dell Tipsword.