Mary Sue Anderson

Mary Sue Burks Anderson passed away from this life on the morning of August 18, 2017 after a brief illness. Her daughters and grandson were at her bedside. Sue was born in Corsicana, Texas to Emma and Guy Burks and spent her childhood in Austin. She graduated from Austin High School and the University of Texas where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Sue was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority, and lived on campus in the sorority house for one semester, a time that she remembered with joy until her last days. In 1955, after one year of teaching school in Corpus Christi, Sue married her college sweetheart John William Anderson. While John served in the United States Army in Korea for two years Sue taught in Corpus and Austin. Upon John's return from the army the couple moved to Dallas where he began his career with Southwestern Bell Telephone Company. Each of their two daughters, Margery Suzanne and Jean Annette, was born in Dallas before John was transferred to St. Louis. The company then moved the family to Little Rock, then back to St. Louis, and then to New York. From there they were transferred to Topeka, then again to St. Louis, then to Kansas City, and finally to Houston. Sue and the girls cheerfully supported John in these moves as he advanced in his career. While in St. Louis Sue earned a master's degree in education from Webster University. Through the years Sue enjoyed hospital volunteering, garden clubs, sorority alumni activities, church involvement, Toastmasters, The English Speaking Union, playing croquet, "Stretch and Tone" exercise at Bellaire Rec Center, and being a grandmother. She and John loved spending time at the family condo in Austin where they had season tickets for years to UT football games. Sue always said that she thought Austin was the most perfect place in the world. The couple enjoyed participating in 6-mile walks sponsored by the Houston Happy Hikers and the Colorado River Walkers, and Sue completed 229 of these walks all across the State of Texas. Another favorite activity was tubing the San Marcos River with a special group of friends every Memorial Day weekend for 30 years. Sue's favorite places to vacation were South Padre Island, the Grand Canyon, New York City at Christmas time, and most of all DisneyWorld. For the past year of her life Sue lived at Brazos Towers at Bayou Manor, a place she was proud to call home. Sue will be remembered as a true Texas lady. She was a gentle, sweet wife, mother, and grandmother and a wonderful friend who cherished her relationships with others, some of which lasted for 70 and 80 years. She had a genuine and kind interest in other people, and possessed an awe inspiring memory for minute personal details. She loved to talk and enjoyed nothing more than telling long stories about the many happy times in her life. Sue is preceded in death by her son-in-law Albert C. McNamara III, her parents, and her in-laws Mary Hale Coston Anderson and Roscoe William Anderson. She is survived by her husband of 62 years John Anderson, her daughters Margery Anderson and Jean Anderson McNamara of Houston, future son-in-law Farhad Bozorgmehr, grandchildren Paige and Jack McNamara, step-grandson Nader Mehr, and her cat, Caesar. The family wishes to thank her physician Dr. Cynthia Williams, Houston Hospice, the staff at Brazos Towers, and her amazing caregivers Mimi, Winnie, Maxina, Sade, Sylvia, Aurelia and Maritess. A celebration of her life will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 16 at Unity of Houston, 2929 Unity Drive, Houston, TX, 77057. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in her memory to Unity of Houston.