Sue Kettle

Sue”Bertha” Kettle of Odessa, Texas left this Earth on September 11, 2024, to fly high with her Lord and Savior.

Visitation will be at Sunset Funeral Home on Sunday September 15, 2024, from 2-4pm.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bethany Christian Church on September 16, 2024, at 11:30. The Service will be officiated by Rev. Jimmy Braswell.

Sue Kettle (born Bertha Mae) was born in Fort Stockton, Texas on September 20, 1940, and resided in Imperial, Texas through high school. She graduated from Buena Vista High School, before moving to Odessa, Texas. Sue was always called the “Queen of Multiple Talents” by her family because she participated in every activity she could in high school.

Sue initially worked for Lester’s Jewelry in the credit department before moving to Retail Merchants doing credit reporting for many local businesses. She met the love of her life, Kenneth E. Kettle and married him at Morris Caffey’s home on December 30, 1961. They were married just shy of 50 years prior to his passing in July 2010.

Sue moved from Odessa to Alpine, Texas to attend Sul Ross University where she obtained a Bachelor of Science with a Teaching Certification in 1972. She started her first teaching job at Big Lake Elementary as a third grade teacher. She later moved to Gardendale, Texas and started teaching at Goldsmith Elementary as a sixth grade teacher.

The next step in her career path was as a Legacy Gifted and Talented Teacher. Sue along with three other special ladies started and built the GT program in Ector County for ECISD. Sue taught at Pease and Ireland. She also did multiple work shops in and out of Ector County. She was impacted by many talented kids in her 30+ years as a teacher and educator. Sue also worked as a curriculum specialist and after returning to obtain her Masters degree she was the Director of Advanced Academic Services for ECISD. She retired from teaching on June 30, 2003.

Sue and Ken continued to work in Education at the church and also held annual archaeological digs in Gardendale at their home of almost 50 years. She often took part in brainstorming workshops and camps in the summers.

After retirement Sue was active in many organizations, groups and studies including MCH Volunteers, MCH Junior Volunteers as a sponsor, CWF, PEO, Pilot Club, BSF, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Sue held office in almost every organization mentioned above and was Volunteer of the Year at MCH in 2019.

Sue is preceded in death by her Mother (Bertha Smith), Father (William Calloway Smith), Husband (Kenneth Elmore Kettle), Son (James Richard Kettle), two brothers (Odell Smith and her twin Sonny Smith), and one sister (Melba Daugherty).

Sue is survived by one daughter, Cheryl Goswick and husband Jim. She has two grandsons Geoff (Milina) Kettle and BJ Goswick. She also has one granddaughter Kathryn Kettle-Fowler. Sue was blessed with one great grandson Theo Kettle. Sue had many nieces and nephews from the Kettle and Smith side as well.

In lieu of flowers please consider memorials in Sue’s honor to Bethany Christian Church and Home Hospice. Special thanks to the above organizations.

Over the last four years, there were many special individuals who played key roles in Sue’s life and health care.

A special thanks to Tonya and Tommy Clark along with their three daughters for being the unwavering support system that my mom and I needed.

Thank you to the many friends who checked on mom, sent notes, facebooked and called.

Special thanks to Pam Hicks, Diana Fields, Mary McClelland, Judy Smith, Julie Brown, Starla King Flanagan, Gayle Kinney and family, Denny and Adrain Otwell. I can’t list all the things that these folks helped with, but they were all there at different times to help mom and I.

Thank you to Maxine Sanchez and children Alex and Shelby for being the most incredible caregiver. Mom could not have lived out her years in her home without Maxine’s amazing love and care. I will be forever grateful.

Last but certainly not least, thank you to Herb Morgan for loving my mom and being with her until the end through all the ups and downs. Your love and companionship brought brightness to even her hardest days.