Susie Hulvey and her flintlock rifle. Photo shared by Candy Wind Bryan
This writing was sent in by Ashely Rogers, Daughter of Susie Hulvey
Susan L. “Ladyhawke” Hulvey, 64, of Clinton IL, passed from this life April 9, 2020, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones, listening to her favorite songs, following her battle with cancer.
Susie, as she was known to all, worked alongside her husband at their business, Hulvey Plumbing, for 30 years. She was an avid outdoorswoman, gardener, traveler, a wonderful friend, mother and Mimi.Susie attended the Lane Christian Church, and was a member of the NRA, the NMLRA, the LeRoy Rifle, and Pistol Club, the Prairie Land Frontiersmen Blackpowder Organization, the Barehanded Wolfchokers, and the Widowmakers.
My mom started going to Friendship 34 years ago. What started as a mini-vacation to deal with the news that she had breast cancer, ended up being a tradition that would continue on for the next 3 decades with her and her family after surviving that battle with cancer. Even when my dad would be gone on a bear hunt, mom would still attend Friendship so she didn’t miss a single shoot.
She made friends everywhere she went. It would take so long to walk from Primitive to Commercial Row because either she had to stop and talk to every person or people would stop her to take a picture of her beautiful smile and elegant way of dressing. She had a treasure trove of outfits and loved wearing them all. At times the public would walk into their camp thinking it was a store. More than her outfits though, she treasured the gifts people would make her and was proud to show them off.
Photo of Susie provided by Candy Wind Bryan
My mom was an accomplished marksman in everything she competed in whether it be hawk, knife, primitive archery, flintlock smoothbore, flint rifle, or flint pistol. Rest assured she was out to win and win she could do well. Myself and others considered it a good day if we scored anywhere near as well as mom did. She was a primitive arms purist. Although she had a highly competitive spirit, her joyful spirit abounded even while competing. You could hear her laughter and friendly bantering with other friends/competitors even if you weren’t in her group on the woodswalk.
Although my mom always had a long list of wins each NMLRA shoot, with countless awards, plaques, trophies, 1st place Mountain Squaw axes, etc., what set her apart was she would stop competing to help anyone that needed something. She would be in the middle of cooking a camp dinner and people would wander up the hill asking about Friendship. She would not only take time to explain what we all did, but would invite them for supper. She would stop shooting to help anyone with their flintlock or teach them to make a fire with flint and steel faster if she saw them struggling. She would spend a day taking someone shooting even if it meant she didn’t get to shoot as much. She loved taking time to take her grandkids shooting, throwing hawk or on the primitive archery woodswalk. It was more about getting people and family to love this sport so it would grow and about making memories. She was such an enthusiastic proponent of muzzle loader shooting.
This infectious enthusiasm was great for bringing people into this sport.I’ve found, with mom over the last few years, that Blackpowder and Primitive Living builds friendships and bonds like no other. Bonds on a higher level with a whole different feel. Once you became friends with my mom, you were from that point on “family”. A real family.
Friendship is where I saw my mom smile and laugh the most. She played a major role in that sense of family and the feel of Friendship for many. My mom embodies what Friendship means to a lot of people. Primitive camping and shooting will never be the same without her.I am so proud of my mom in so many ways.
Even though she was a great marksman, cook, singer, friend, wife, mom, and Mimi, I’m most impressed by how strong her faith was throughout this battle for her life. She passed on with God’s Grace losing the battle to the most ungracious of cancers, but she remained positive and without fear through it all, gaining the greatest award of all. Eternity with Jesus.
I can’t bear the thought of Fall at Friendship without her smile, laughter, joy, humming, and her singing “Amazing Grace” and “Down to the River to Pray” around our campfire. But I’m certain Heaven has to be loving the new addition they have received.
In parting words we say to my mom, LadyHawke, “Keep yer powder dry and yer Hawke sharp.”
- Ashley (Hulvey) Rogers and other Friendship friends..