Alice "Sue" Lucille Coody

Alice Lucille “Sue” Coody passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, in Weatherford. 

Visitation: 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Friday, April 26, 2024 at White’s Funeral Home, 130 Houston Ave., Weatherford. 

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Grace First Presbyterian Church, 606 Mockingbird Lane, Weatherford, Texas 76086. 

Interment: Private in Memory Gardens of the Valley Memorial Park. 

Memorials: In lieu of flowers, contributions in Sue's honor may be made to the Weatherford College Coody Family Scholarship Fund, wc.edu/foundation, or the Grace First Presbyterian Church Compassion Fund, gracefirstpc.churchcenter.com/giving.

Alice Lucille Coody was born September 17, 1934, in Bay City, Texas to Paul and Mary Novosad.  She quickly acquired the family nickname of “Sudie” which later became “Sue,” and she remained so her entire life. She was an intelligent, curious child who learned to read at an early age and moved through elementary and high school quickly, graduating high school in East Bernard, Texas at the age of 16. Her mother often described her as a “stubborn” child, though Sue would tell you that she had no idea why. From her earliest childhood, Sue loved stories, both reading and writing them, and this love would inform the path that the rest of her life would take.

After graduating high school, Sue rode the bus to her classes at Wharton Junior College. Also on that daily bus ride was a young man named Bill. The rest, of course, is history. In 1954, she married her partner in life and love, W.G. “Bill” Coody, and together they had many adventures, including raising their three children, rescuing countless stray cats and dogs, scouring shops and auctions for unique antique finds, running political campaigns, and sharing stories and laughs about their teaching careers. 

Sue was a lifelong educator, connecting with and nurturing countless students ranging from elementary to college-aged. She taught in Weatherford ISD from 1963-1965 and 1967-1973. Her classroom was full of noise and fun, sometimes to the chagrin of her more traditional colleagues, who would pop their heads in her door to shush her and her students. It didn’t work. Sue knew then what is now considered basic educational doctrine: children should learn actively, not passively (which sometimes involves a little chaos along the way). 

In 1973, she shifted her teaching skills to the classrooms of Weatherford College, where she worked with energy and devotion until her retirement in 2011. She wore many hats at Weatherford College, but she consistently maintained a passion for reading and writing education, particularly for first generation students and students in her remedial English classes. Even years after her retirement, Sue just couldn’t stay away from WC: in 2017, she ran for and won a seat on the Board of Trustees, where she served faithfully until 2022. One of Sue’s core beliefs was that each individual she encountered was worthy, deserving, and capable, and she helped many students (as well as friends and family) believe this about themselves. Many of Sue’s closest friendships were forged with colleagues from WC, and her family thanks each of these colleagues and friends for being such a vital and joyful part of her life. 

Sue was a member of the Parker County Retired Teachers Association and the Weatherford College Ex-Students Association. For much of her life, she was a member of the Methodist Church, and in her retirement years, she joined Grace First Presbyterian Church where she was elected to serve as an Elder and enjoyed classes and worship with her friends and pastors. She was also an active, lifelong Democrat, dedicated to supporting Bill's political career as well as to political and social causes of her own.

She was a wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, and great-grandmother, as well as a friend and surrogate mother or grandmother to many. She was a listener, advisor, mentor, and storyteller, fiercely devoted to the people she loved. She made the most delicious spinach balls and a mean slice of cheese toast.

The last year of her life brought with it many changes, including a move to Brookdale Senior Living, where she enjoyed wonderful friendships with both residents and staff. Sue’s family would like to give our deepest thanks to the staff of Brookdale Senior Living, who made her time there so welcoming and joyful as well as to the staff of College Park Rehabilitation, Texas Health, and Medical City Weatherford, where so many nurses, techs, aides, and doctors offered compassionate, quality care.

Sue is reunited in death with her husband of 58 years, Bill Coody; her son, Jim Coody, whom Sue has missed every day for the last 43 years; her grandson Jason Buechler; and her three sisters, Mary Jo Hlavinka, Frankie Cordelle, and Polly Graves. She is survived by her daughter Cathy Zellers and husband Ed; son Sam Coody and wife Lisa; grandchildren Claire and Richard Varnon, Jake and Amy Coody, Ethan and Hadley Coody, and Caitlin Zellers and Ashley Guillory; great grandchildren Kira St. Jacques, Charlotte Varnon, Elena Coody, Sofia Coody, and Iris Varnon; and many beloved nieces, nephews, and friends whom she adopted as family.