Yreva Sue Sims Allen, age 92, of Clute crossed over to Heaven on Thanksgiving Day November 28, 2024.
Sue was born to James Rufus and Anna Belle (Dodd) Sims on January 25, 1932, in Lost Prairie, near Groesbeck in Limestone County, Texas. She grew up in Clute, Texas, and graduated high school in Freeport, Texas, on May 26, 1949.
Sue attended Texas Baptist Institute in 1951 and was a graduate in Bible Languages. She went on to Baylor University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education on May 28, 1954. Sue obtained a Masters degree in Elementary Education from University of Houston August 23, 1968, and a Professional Supervisors Certificate in 1984 from Sam Houston State University.
Sue loved teaching, social studies and history. During her teaching career, she was a classroom teacher for 22 years, teaching 3rd, 5th and 6th grades for Brazosport ISD. She was the Supervisor for Social Studies at BISD for 11 years. Altogether she worked 33 years for BISD and retired in May 1992. After retirement from BISD, she taught a special GED program for 7 years at Brazosport College.
Sue was a 50-year member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an International Honorary Sorority of Women Educators, and served as President as well as other offices. She will be remembered by her sisters for her leadership and commitment to quality education for all.
Sue married James Ray Allen, the love of her life, on March 6, 1954. They were married for 62 years before his passing in 2016.
Granny Sue had such a sweet and loving heart, and this world will not be the same without her. She truly loved her husband, children and grandchildren, and joyfully lived by her Christian faith. She was a strong advocate for children and practiced Matthew 25:40 “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” She volunteered many years for the Rainbow Room.
She had a lifelong love for reading and could always be found with a book in hand and another one nearby. To quote a granddaughter – “My grandmother taught me to read, not just for school, but for pleasure. She taught me to think, to question and to strive for social justice.” She also enjoyed quilting, crocheting and tending to her flowers. Reading was a great comfort to her in her last years.
She enjoyed traveling and some of her most memorable trips with family and friends included trips to Maui; a National Park tour of Sedona, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion and Lake Powell; a cruise from Buenos Aires, Argentina to the Falkland Islands and Antarctica; a British Isles cruise (Ireland, Scotland & France); an Alaskan cruise; and trips to London, New York City and DC.
Sue accepted Jesus into her heart at a young age and lived her life in a way that exemplified her faith and love for Christ. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of Clute.
She was preceded in death by her parents, James Rufus and Anna Belle Sims; her husband, James Ray Allen; daughter, Teresa Foley; grandson, Thomas Ray Bowman; and brother Jimmy Sims.
Left to cherish her memory include her sons, James Jerral Allen (Jerry) and wife, Jerri, Joseph Carlton Allen and wife, Tina, John David Allen and wife, Sydney; her sisters-in-law, Kathryn Penney and Jessie Bennett and husband, George; her grandchildren, Amy Nance and husband, Tommy, Justin Bowman, Stephanie Allen-Swanson and husband, Erik, Austin Allen, Ashley Dubov and husband, Alex, and Zachary Allen; and her great-grandchildren Hannah Byrd and husband, Cody, Tommy Nance and Noah Nance.
A celebration of life will be held at First Baptist Church of Clute on Tuesday December 3, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at Restwood Memorial Park.
Pallbearers will be Justin Bowman, Austin Allen, Zachary Allen, Tommy Nance, Tommy Nance Jr. and Mark Sydow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to: Brazoria County Child Welfare Service Fund, Angleton Rainbow Room, 1504 E. Mulberry St., Angleton, TX 77515 or The Food Basket – Clute, Interfaith Food Bank at P. O. Box 1448, Clute, TX 77531.
A special thank you to Country Village, who cared for her and loved her like family as well as Choice Hospice who stepped in during the latter days and provided care with true compassion and kindness.