DAUGHTER FINDS DAD AFTER FOUR DECADES

Ivan Bright feeds his grandson Alex. Bright had to drive 6 hours from Marionville to meet his newly-found family.

Marie Bright, left, suffered complications and died after giving birth to Susan.

Ivan Bright feeds his new baby girl just before his decision to give her up.

Susan Statler's life began with the death of her mother and her father deciding someone else should raise her.

After a 40 year separation, she and her father have been reunited and are happier than ever.

"It's been wonderful," Statler said. "It's really made my life complete."

And Bright agrees.

"It's opened up a whole new world," Bright said. "I just love she and her family to pieces."

But the story doesn't start here, that's just the happy ending. There were many tears and much tragedy to get here.

The story actually begins in 1954 with a happy couple expecting a child. Having been married only 18 months, Ivan and Marie Bright were still practically newlyweds.

But the happiness didn't last; tragedy struck while Marie was in labor. Complications arose, and she had to have a Caesarean section. After giving birth to baby Susan, Marie died six days later.

"My dad said he was devastated," Statler said. "And he felt like he couldn't keep me."

Bright said he didn't know whether he was coming or going and because of financial, mental and emotional concerns, he felt it would be better if someone else raised his daughter.

"I gave her to my aunt," Bright said. "I thought they could raise her and do a better job than I could by myself."

Bright said his aunt had been crazy about his wife -- they had been like sisters, so she seemed like the obvious choice.

He said he continued to work at his job at an ice cream company and after that, he simply lost track of his baby daughter.

So Statler lived with her great aunt, but she wasn't done being moved around. Statler's great aunt died just two years later.

Statler's great uncle, who wasn't biologically related to Statler, also felt like he couldn't keep this baby girl. But his brother and sister-in-law had adopted one child already, so he asked them to take her and they gladly accepted.

Les and Imogene Hawn adopted Susan (then her last name was Bright) and she had found her home. They loved her as one of their own, and Statler said they were wonderful parents.

"They were great -- they even put me through college," Statler said.

Statler said she had a normal childhood. She always knew she was adopted but she never asked her adoptive parents about her biological parents.

"They were so good to me," Statler said. "To me they were just Mom and Dad." Statler said she was curious and did want to ask, but she didn't want to hurt their feelings.

And Statler had a normal adult life, as well. She married Ivan Statler (she said she thinks it's ironic that her father and husband have the same first name) and had two wonderful children. Joshua is 11 now and Alex is 2. Statler is a kindergarten teacher in Jackson and her husband is part owner of McCombs Funeral Home.

But on Christmas Day 1994, Statler got a startling phone call.

"She told me her name was Irene Woods and that she was my only living relative," Statler said. "She told me she was my great aunt."

Statler said she doesn't know why her aunt didn't mention her father then. Statler suggested that maybe it slipped her mind.

Woods lived in St. James and she invited Statler and her family to meet her. In March, they went.

"While I was talking to her, she mentioned that my father was still living," Statler said. This was also when Statler learned that her mother had died in childbirth.

"I felt really guilty," Statler said. "I remember thinking that she had given up her own life for me."

But Statler decided to focus on her father, who was still alive and well. She said she was "shocked and very curious."

So she called him, but only after waiting a week getting up the courage to call.

"When he answered, I told him what my name was and I told him I was his daughter," Statler said. She said she was greeted by silence.

"I was stunned," Bright said. "I didn't know what to think."

Statler told her father that she would like to meet him, and asked him if he wanted to see her.

"I told her I had been waiting 40 years to see her," Bright said.

On April 22, daughter and father were reunited after an over-40-year separation.

"When he first got here, it was awkward and I was really nervous," Statler said.

Bright said she couldn't have been any more nervous than he was.

"I wasn't sure if she'd even like me or not," Bright said.

But they hit it off -- Statler called him Dad immediately. They talked about their lives and now they both feel close to each other.

Bright met his new family, grandchildren and son-in-law included. And he only has great things to say about them.

"I love those kids and I think he's the greatest guy that ever walked the face of the earth," Bright said, "and he's very good to my daughter."

And while Bright regrets that things turned out this way, he makes no excuses, and he stands behind his decision.

"If I hadn't thought it was right, I would have done something else," Bright said. "We're just very lucky we found each other."

Bright has visited three times since April and Statler hopes he can visit again before the weather gets cold.

Les Hawn, her adoptive father died 1978, but Statler still keeps in touch with her adoptive mother, and will always be grateful for what she did.

"When I finally told her that I had found my dad, she didn't say much," Statler said. "She just doesn't seem too interested in our relationship."

But things are still good for Statler, she says, and in fact are better than they have ever been.

"I finally feel like I know where I come from," Statler said.