Rosemarie “Sue” Mims, 78, of San Angelo, Texas died in her home July 27, 2018. Her many friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life service on her birthday at 11 a.m. Monday, August 20th – her birthday. Address: Johnson’s Funeral Home, 435 West Beauregard Avenue, San Angelo.
Born in San Angelo’s St. John’s Hospital to Elton Teal and Marie Gerber Mims, Sue grew up on the family ranch she loved in Coke County, northwest Water Valley, Texas. She hugged and fed the “critters” on the ranch - from her beloved dogie lamb Nibby Tag to pet rabbits, numerous goats, and Skeeter, the dachshund dog named after her Uncle George. Sue could ride a horse as well as any cowboy and always helped round up the sheep and cattle. At sheep shearing time, it was her job to paint brands on the newly shorn sheep. Of course, Sue always took time to play with her brother and cousins on the woolsacks stuffed full of fresh fleeces.
Sue attended school in Water Valley where she was involved in most of the extracurricular activities and valedictorian of her class. After graduating from Water Valley High School, she attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas and graduated with a degree in Education. While pursuing her Masters degree at Ohio State University, Sue served as the “Buckeye” young women’s Student Dormitory Counselor. Sue then went on to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor as Director of Information Technology when the Internet was in its infancy. Thanks to her mathematical and self-taught computer programming skills, she put the entire University of Michigan system on-line. Sue left the University of Michigan for a position with the Herman Miller, the internationally known maker of the famous Eames Lounge Chair and designer office furniture. After her career with Herman Miller, Inc. in Zeeland, Michigan, Sue returned to San Angelo.
Retirement from one career led to another one that she enjoyed even more. Sue took an active role in the workings of the ranch where she grew up. With the help of cousins, Wade and Craig Demere, new fences replaced to old ones, new tanks and water troughs were built, and much needed brush control work was done. Like her Grandfather, J.R Mims and her Dad, Elton, Sue was adamant about preserving the land for future generations and immediately involved her brother and nephews in the operation of their historical Shelving Rock Ranch.
When Sue came back to San Angelo, she renewed her membership in the Water Valley Methodist Church, the church in which she grew up and attended with her brother, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Sue was a faithful member, served on the church board as well as being the District Lay person for the church at the annual Methodist Conferences. When the Water Valley Methodist Church closed, she was instrumental in turning the church into the Water Valley Community Center, which offers significant services to the area.
Sue also became a dedicated supporter of The West Texas Organizing Strategy, a driving force behind major neighborhood revitalization.
Sue supported the teachers and students at Water Valley with her time, talents, and money. One of her favorite things to do was to watch her cousins Brock and Seth Demere play ball and star in the School plays and she was so excited to be in Austin when her beloved “Wildcats” won the state basketball tournament.
Sue is survived by her brother Robert E. Mims and his wife Joyce, nephews, Michael Robert Mims and John William Mims, Grandniece Madeline Holiday Mims, Grandnephew Alexander Becket Mims, First Cousins Kathi Coulter Johnson, William D. Sprague, Jr. and his wife Marilyn, Madelon Sprague, and Marianne Sprague Paul, plus many, many close cousins and friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Luke Methodist Church in San Angelo, Water Valley Community Center, Water Valley Exes Association, Heifer International, or the charity of choice.
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