Sue Carole Gillham Blair

Sue Carole Gillham Blair

July 11, 1939 – March 25, 2026

Sue Carole Gillham Blair, 86, of Story, Arkansas, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 25, 2026, surrounded by family and the sound of hymns. A "spitfire" from day one, Sue was born in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Later, her family moved to a farm in Texarkana, Arkansas where she later graduated from Arkansas High School. She attended Texas Christian University and received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Henderson State University.

Sue spent most of her life in Story with the love of her life, Jimmy Blair. Together, they turned their farm into a sanctuary for family and friends. While famously feisty, Sue was also deeply motherly, serving as an honorary parent, grandparent and friend to many. Their home was a place of farm animals, puzzles, laughs, home-cooked meals and bottomless cups of coffee. It was a feeling as much as a location.

A woman of many passions, Sue was a talented artist and seamstress, an avid reader and a festive decorator. She kept people laughing until they cried without any effort and remained gloriously unfiltered until the end. If Marlboro Reds and Big Red gum are allowed in Heaven, we know she’s happily picking up those old habits again. Her faith ran deep, and she was honored to be a member of Refuge Baptist Church.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy, and her parents, Dan and Bertha Gillham. She is survived by her daughters, Pat Mazer and Dana (Thomas) DeAndrea; grandsons, David (Natasha) and Daniel (Brenda); her brother, John Gillham, and her nieces, Kelly Daniel, Heather Gillham, Mary Beth Gillham and Lindsey Gillham Thompson (Josh), along with three great-grandsons, two great-nephews and three great-nieces.

Her passing marks the end of an era in Story, but her joy lives on in those blessed to have known her. Thanks for making life fun, Sue.

A graveside memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. at Reed Cemetery in Story, Arkansas. Arrangements under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home in Mount Ida, Arkansas. Guest register at www.thortonfh.com