Luana Sudan

She was born on 5/1/1955 to Neighl and Laverne Groh in Charleston, SC. Her family moved quite a lot before settling in Dallas, Texas where she graduated from WT White High School. She went to Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she met her eventual husband, Artie Sudan. The last two years were back in Dallas at Baylor’s nursing school from which she received her RN. She and Artie married a week after graduation in 1977 and moved to Houston, Texas where he went to medical school. They lived there for eight years and were active at South Main Baptist Church, and a vibrant medical community Bible study. She worked at Park Plaza Hospital.

They then moved back to Waco as he took a job with an internal medicine group. While in Houston, Luana gave birth to three of their four children, the last being born in Waco. Besides rearing her children, she taught 9th grade girls Sunday School at Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, worked with Acteens, and also taught a women’s Precepts Bible study. She was active in the Mountainview PTA in various roles. Later she was active as a volunteer at Vanguard High school and in 2022 was the first nonstudent inducted in the inaugural Vanguard Athletic Hall of Fame. As the children grew older, she got back into nursing and worked at several offices around town, ending her career at the Wound Care Clinic.

The final 22 years, she was involved with Antioch Community Church where she served as a LIfegroup leader. In addition, she volunteered with Meals on Wheels for many years. She loved serving and loved missions and this took her to Ireland, then to Indonesia after the tsunami, and to Haiti after the terrible earthquake. She also attended countless athletic activities of all her children, and was a part of a local quilt group. She loved quilting and needlework.

She and Artie were married for 47 years. Though they were very different personalities, they had a wonderful marriage and were best friends. They complemented each other well. She was his biggest cheerleader, and he allowed her to pursue all of her dreams. They invested their lives into so many people, but especially into the next generations in their family.

But her greatest love was reserved for being Mimi to her 17 grandchildren. She was a truly remarkable woman. She loved the Lord with all her heart, and she loved her fellow men and women. She was as comfortable with high profile people as with a person on the street. She spent hours and hours helping many of them. She was loved by everyone and was the kindest person you could ever meet. Her home was always open and she welcomed so many people there.

She is survived by her husband, Artie, her daughter Christy with husband Jordan Ogden, her daughter Amy with husband Blake Marable, her son Jason Sudan with wife Alex, and her daughter Mary Beth with husband Alejandro. She also leaves behind seventeen grandchildren – Jayden, Duncan, Campbell, Barron, and Larkin Ogden; Emery Kate, Molly, Burson, and Lucy Marable; Hallie, Corrie, Nella, and Wylder Sudan; Sundance, Sylvan, Willow, and Sebastian D’Brot. In addition, she has a sister, Cathy with husband Jimmy Webster, and their two daughters, Stephanie and Anna Lee, and an aunt, Sandra Kendall.

The memorial service will be held at Antioch Community Church on Friday, September 6th at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts be directed to Mission Waco, Acts of Mercy, Meals on Wheels, or CareNet Pregnancy Center.