SR 152

2026 Regular Session  ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 152
BY SENATOR FOIL
  A RESOLUTION
To express the sincere and heartfelt condolences of the Senate of the Legislature of
       Louisiana upon the passing of Susan Ann Traylor Bittick and to celebrate a
       remarkable woman whose brilliance, spirit, and unforgettable presence left a lasting
       mark on all who knew her.
       WHEREAS, Susan was born on September 4, 1954, in Hughes Springs, Texas, to
Robert "Bob" H. Traylor and Jodie Bess Wallace Traylor, and was the cherished sister of
Gary Traylor; and
       WHEREAS, from her earliest years, Susan was known for her vibrant spirit, warmth,
and ability to bring joy to those around her, qualities that remained hallmarks of her life; and
       WHEREAS, Susan graduated from Gilmer High School in 1973 before launching
a successful journalism career that spanned sixteen years, during which she served as food
editor for the Longview Morning Journal and city editor of the Shreveport Times; and
       WHEREAS, her sharp intellect and commanding presence led her to cover the
gubernatorial campaign of former Florida Governor Bob Martinez before ultimately serving
as his press secretary; and
       WHEREAS, never one to stop challenging herself, Susan returned to school to
pursue higher education, earning a bachelor's degree in Latin American Studies from
Louisiana Tech University in 1990 before attending St. Louis University School of Law,
where she distinguished herself as editor of the Law Journal and graduated in 1995; and
       WHEREAS, she later earned a Master of Laws degree from the University of
Houston in 2006, further cementing her reputation as a formidable legal and policy mind;
and
       WHEREAS, she devoted the last nineteen years of her accomplished career to Ryan,
LLC, where she most recently served as a principal in the company's U.S. Advocacy practice
and earned national recognition as a leading and influential voice in state tax policy; and
       WHEREAS, colleagues and peers admired Susan for her intellect, professionalism,
integrity, mentorship, extraordinary work ethic, and unwavering commitment to public
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SR NO. 152  ENROLLED
service, remembering her as dynamic, insightful, and a powerful advocate, and describing
her as "wicked smart", "a firecracker", and "a force to be reckoned with"; and
       WHEREAS, Susan was a cherished member of the Louisiana Capitol team
affectionately known as "The Roses and The Thorns", where her wit, intuition, friendship,
unmistakable personality, and infectious laugh made her deeply admired and treasured
among the group and by all those around her; and
       WHEREAS, despite her many professional accomplishments, Susan's greatest joy
was the life she built with her beloved husband, Tom Bittick, whom she met at a Christmas
party in 1990 and married on October 5, 1991; and
       WHEREAS, together they shared a passion for travel, exceptional food, fine wine,
and new adventures, with Susan especially cherishing her travels to London and countless
other cities around the world; and
       WHEREAS, Susan embraced life with unmistakable style and enthusiasm, never
missing an opportunity to dance and rarely seen without her signature heels; and
       WHEREAS, she was an avid reader, an accomplished gardener known for producing
an abundance of tomatoes and countless jars of homemade marinara sauce, an avid art
collector with exceptional taste and appreciation for fine art, and a devoted lover of
Christmas music on vinyl and her beloved dogs, especially her rescue dog, Mavis; and
       WHEREAS, family game nights were legendary occasions, particularly when Susan
insisted upon playing Monopoly as the Scottie Dog token and threatened to read the entire
rulebook aloud whenever she suspected cheating, which she often did; and
       WHEREAS, Susan possessed a rare combination of fierce determination, quick wit,
immense kindness, and boundless generosity; qualities that endeared her to family, friends,
colleagues, and all those fortunate enough to cross her path; and
       WHEREAS, Susan embraced Louisiana's unique culture and traditions, especially
enjoying annual gatherings and outdoor excursions with dear friends and colleagues that
celebrated the state's rich cuisine, camaraderie, and sporting heritage, particularly her
memorable alligator hunting adventures and her plans to transform treasured keepsakes from
those experiences into handcrafted items reflecting her adventurous spirit, creativity, and
deep love for Louisiana; and
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SR NO. 152  ENROLLED
       WHEREAS, Susan leaves behind a legacy of love, wisdom and devotion to her
family, friends, and colleagues; she is survived by her loving husband of thirty-four years,
Tom Bittick; her brother, Gary Traylor, and his wife, Chasha; her sisters-in-law, Elizabeth
Bittick Dailey, and Mary Bittick Camden, and Mary's husband, Mike, her uncle, Jerry
Traylor, and many loving nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews who
affectionately knew her as "The Greatest Aunt"; and
       WHEREAS, Susan Ann Traylor Bittick lived boldly, loved deeply, and left behind
a lasting mark of brilliance, kindness, humor, grace, and unmistakable flair that will continue
to inspire and uplift all who knew and loved her.
       THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby extend its sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Susan
Ann Traylor Bittick.
       BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to her
husband, Tom Bittick, and her brother, Gary Traylor.
  PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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