Sue Zanne Childress Grier, age 76, passed away from lung cancer September 28, 2021, at her home in Rising Star surrounded by her loving family and pets. A private family memorial is planned for a later date to honor Sue Zanne’s life and love for others. Heartland Funeral Home is in charge of services.
She was born February 6, 1945, in Sundown, TX, to Oleta Baker Childress and B. J. ‘Skeet’ Childress. Sue Zanne attended schools in Sundown, Panola, OK and Brownfield before attending Texas A&M – Kingsville. Throughout her life, she worked for the Sheraton Hotel – Corpus Christi as the beverage service director for several years, and as an administrative assistant at the King Ranch in Kingsville where she honed her knowledge of oil and gas production.
It was during her tenure at the Sheraton that she met the love of her life, Gerald Lee Grier. They married August 22, 1981, in Corpus Christi. She and Jerry lived in Bishop where they remodeled a prairie style home and built one of the prettiest yards and gardens in town. One of the happiest times in her life was during the 16 years they lived in Bishop where she canned vegetables, put up preserves and filled their freezers from her garden each summer.
After traveling for three years in their RV, the family relocated to Rising Star in 1997 so Sue Zanne could be close to her only aunt, Fredda Criswell, and her family. She always said she felt most safe and relaxed at the Criswell Family ranch in the Okra community.
Throughout her life, Sue Zanne enjoyed being outside watching her birds at the feeders and lost animals knew to go to her house for a safe refuge. She was a longtime fan, and self-proclaimed assistant coach, of the Dallas Mavericks and enjoyed shopping and wearing pretty clothes. She loved anything sparkly, and Jerry kept her happy with beautiful jewelry through the years. Sue Zanne was always an advocate for the state of Texas when she and Jerry traveled or visited his relatives in Iowa. She loved the Lone Star state! She was a photographer with a keen eye and enjoyed capturing quality images throughout her life.
Two of the biggest heartaches in Sue Zanne’s life were the deaths of two of her children: Shauna Sue Merryman in 1960 and Kendall Roger Merryman in 1966. She was also preceded in death by her parents in 1985; her sisters, Carole Jean Childress, and Geneva Childress Roach; by a granddaughter, Emily Morgan, in 2016; and by two of her beloved pets, Lilli Beth and Mitzi.
Her survivors include her husband, Jerry, of Rising Star; her daughter, Kimberley Merryman of Durant, OK; her son, Scott Anderson of Zapata; a granddaughter, Chelcey Akins of Durant; two great-grandchildren, Ti’Lee Akins, and Payden Henson of Durant; one brother, Gem Childress of Sugarland; one aunt, Fredda Criswell, of Carbon; her cousin, Wayna Criswell Polk, of Carbon; and a special step-grandson, Joshua Morehead, of Austin. She is also survived by her husband’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; Roach and Childress nieces, nephews, and numerous Baker and Timmons cousins with whom she shared many happy times growing up. Pets left to mourn her passing are Sam, Bogie, Katy, and her favorite cat, Silly.
Memorial donations in her memory can be made to Planned Parenthood for mammograms and to the NaNook & NaKoda’s Big Paw Rescue in Brownwood.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Scott Crocker for his loving care of Sue Zanne over the last 15 years; to Dr. Ralph Heaven for his efforts to prolong her life during the last five years; to Dr. Joanne Paulk of Cross Plains for being so empathetic to her health needs; and to the compassionate nurses and staff of Kindred Hospice of Eastland for their loving care during the past few days.
Online condolences, memorials and tributes can be shared with the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.
