Susan (Suzie or Susie) Kresse Cole of Harbor Homes on New York avenue in Oak Bluffs died on Jan. 18 at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital. She was 69.

She was born on August 20, 1954 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Nyack, N.Y., the daughter of Elizabeth (Bette) Cole and David Soutter Cole.

Susan first lived with her family in Pearl River, N.Y. She began skiing at the age of four at Silvermine Ski Area in Bear Mountain State Park and continued skiing every winter until she moved to Hawaii.

Childhood summers were spent on Martha’s Vineyard and at her grandparents’ camp on Gordon Lake. Her love of swimming, snorkeling and being on a beach continued throughout her life.

Her family built a home in Upper Saddle River, N.J., where she formed lifelong friends. After high school she attended Peters Valley School of Craft and discovered a passion for making jewelry. From 1986 to 1988 she attended the Kulicke-Stark Academy and studied the art of granulation. She also attended the New York School of Jewelry and created many beautiful pieces that won awards at the Agricultural Fair on the Vineyard.

Throughout her life Susan considered Martha’s Vineyard as her home base. Her friends and life revolved around the Black Dog, culminating in the beginning and decoration of the Admiral Benbow Inn.

With a move to California and then to Hawaii with Craig Bowman, the love of her life, and her love of the ocean, she began another island life. Once there, Susan worked as a luau hostess and in the food industry.

A return to the Vineyard brought her back home for the past eight years. She lived in West Tisbury and then Oak Bluffs.

Her friends and family will miss and remember her enthusiasm for life, great sense of humor and her independent spirit. She was a wild beauty and moved with passion and creativity in a life filled with an eye for fashion and design.

Her family is eternally grateful for the love and support that was given to Susan by the staff at the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital and Harbor Homes.

She is survived by her loving sister Barbara Conkling and her husband Doug of Canaan, N.Y.; her godson and nephew Jonathan Conkling, his wife Trisha and grand-niece Elizabeth of Canaan, N.Y.; her nephew David Conkling, his wife Colleen and grand-niece Calliope of South Salem, N.Y.; her nephew Daniel, his wife Wen Li and grand-niece Robin of Edmonds, Wash.; and her niece Kathryn Conkling and her partner Micah Stanovsky of Whidbey Island, Wash.

She is also survived by her stepmother, Peggy Cole of Mahwah, N.J., who loved her as a daughter, and her extended family of Debbie Murphy, Nancy Ruffino and spouse Richard, Duffy Lewis and spouse Peggy, and her long-standing faithful friend, Doreen Marino of Oak Bluffs.

Susan was predeceased by her father David Cole of Mahwah, N.J., mother Bette Cole of Oak Bluffs, life partner Craig Bowman of Kona, Hawaii, stepbrother Chris Lewis of Fort Lee, N.J., and Anais, a Bouvier des Flandres who was Susan’s best dog companion ever.

A memorial service and reception will be held on Feb. 10 at 3 p.m. at Harbor Homes, located at 111 New York avenue in Oak Bluffs, for friends and family. The Rev. Cathlin Baker will officiate a service before the reception.