Mary Sue Lancaster

Sue Lancaster passed to eternal life on December 4, 2015 at The Isle at Watercrest in Bryan, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Chapel in Bryan. Visitation will be in the Sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Bryan, at 12:30 P.M. on Tuesday, December 8, 2015, followed by services at 2:00 P.M. Interment will follow at College Station Cemetery.

(Mary) Sue Franks was born in Tennessee to Cecil Henry Franks and Susie Jones Franks on September 9, 1923, the first of four children. She began school early and graduated with honors from high school in Arkansas. On her 17th birthday, she entered Ouachita Baptist College in Arkansas and graduated from Drury College in Missouri before pursuing graduate courses in music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. Sue has devoted her life to volunteer and staff church music ministry, beginning at a young age accompanying on the piano at revivals held by her pastor father, Cecil, and continuing this love of spiritual music ministry in each church she attended. Until her 90th birthday, she taught piano lessons. Sue shared her gift of music with instruction in organ and voice lessons as well as piano to hundreds of students over a 70 year teaching career. She could play any tune with no music to guide her, and with the unique ability to hear perfectly the pitches of all notes and transpose on the spot, she was the favorite accompanist to scores of soloists.

Sue will be remembered for her values, Biblical standards and as a prayer partner to many who needed her to lift them up in prayer or simply by example. Throughout her life, in times of challenges and sweet times with Cliff, Sue was a lady to be admired. God richly blessed her life and met all her needs.

Sue was preceded in death by W. C. (Cliff) Lancaster on May 3, 2014, her devoted husband who promised her he would see her in Heaven, her parents, a brother, Reverend James Franks, and a sister, Nancy Jo Franks Beene.

She leaves her children, Judy and Tony Varisco III, Richard and Marianne Poss, Keith and Amy Lancaster, Kenneth and Catharine Lancaster; her grandchildren, Tony IV and Callie Varisco, Lorin and Cody Catalena, Anne and Todd Bessler, Garrett and Cindy Lancaster; her great-grandchildren, Cole and Kate Catalena, Elle and Tony Varisco V, and Ava and Nathanael Bessler. Sue also leaves a special sister, Alma Ruth (Franks) Gladen, as well as ten nieces and their families.

The family wishes to thank the membership and staff of First Baptist Church, Bryan, for years of friendship and love, and special caregivers, Joyce and Laurie, the Traditions Hospice staff, the Watercrest staff, and all those who supported her through her career and prayed for her through the difficult days in the loss of Cliff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to, First Baptist Church in Bryan,3100 Cambridge Dr., Bryan, Texas 77802, Traditions Hospice, 1862 Rock Prairie Rd. # 202, College Station, Texas 77845, and Completing the Task, Inc. mission ministry, P.O. Box 2777, Bryan, Texas 77805.