GREENE – Sue Ellen (Keaton) Beals, 71, of Greene, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Sunday, Aug. 28, 2011 at the NY State Veterans Home, Oxford following an extended illness.
She is predeceased by her father, Kenneth Keaton, mother, Helen (Keaton) Tindilia, step-father, John Tindilia, aunt, Betty Lou Harford, and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Alden and Syrena Beals. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 47 years, John A. Beals, son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Sheryl Beals of Honesdale, Pa., son and daughter-in-law, Daniel and Sandy Beals of Fleming, Ohio, daughter, Stacy Beals of Greene, and daughter and son-in-law, Darby (Beals) and William Kinne of Greene. She is also survived by her sister and brother-in-law, Korky (Keaton) and David Gwinn of Lexington, Kent., brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dave and Sandy (Beals) Best of Marion, Iowa, and grandchildren, Stefanie, Shawn, Spencer, Samantha, Naomi, Hannah and Simeon, as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, step-grandchildren and step-great grandchildren.
Sue was born on Aug. 3, 1940 in Beckley, W. Va. In 1958, she graduated from Shady Springs High School, and in 1961 she graduated from nursing school in Radford, Va. After becoming a licensed RN, Sue decided to serve her country and joined the U.S. Air Force. While stationed in Cheyenne, Wyo., she met her future husband John Beals. After a 30-day courtship, they were married in a small country church in Sparta, N.C. In 1965, John and Sue moved to Greene and began raising their family. They became members of the Highland Park Alliance Church where, in her early years of attendance, Sue took great joy in directing the church choir. Her greatest goal in life was to have a close relationship with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Sue worked in the nursing profession, holding positions at several local hospitals and nursing homes; but she took the most pride in being the nurse for the Head Start Program in Greene. In her early 50s she was diagnosed with dementia and early onset Alzheimer’s. Sadly, she could no longer care for others serving as a nurse, and had to leave the profession she loved the most. As her disease progressed, she was admitted into the NY State Veterans Home, where she remained for the past 8 years. Her husband, John, remained devoted to her even after she no longer recognized him. He continued to show his love and devotion to her by visiting her several times a week and taking her to the Sunday afternoon church services at the nursing home.
Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday at Root Funeral Home. Rev. Jeff Cutting will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in Sylvan Lawn Cemetery, Greene. Friends of the family may call Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Root Funeral Home 23 N. Chenango Street, Greene, NY 13778.
The family wishes to thank the workers and staff at the Veterans Home in Oxford, especially those on the Hawthorne Unit, for their loving care for Sue over the last eight years.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Sue’s memory to the NY State Veterans Home, 4207 State Highway 220, Oxford, NY 13830 or to the Greene Emergency Squad 8 N. Canal Street, Greene, NY 13778.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.rootfh.com.