Sue Ann Dias Boyette (“Sue Sue”), 71, of Wharton, passed away on September 4, 2018 after bravely fighting adversity with her health over the last year. She was born on February 11, 1947 at the Frances Lutcher Hospital in Orange, Texas to Mary Louise (Stewart) Dias and J. P. Dias. Eighteen months after her birth, the young family was joined by her adorable baby brother, Johnny (he made me write that). After 5 years, the family moved to West Orange, into a neighborhood consisting of 16 homes (8 on each side of the street) and each of the heads of household were World War II veterans and had purchased their houses on the GI Bill with VA loans. Most all the households had at least 2 or 3 children that were approximately the same age as Sue Ann and Johnny. This quite little neighborhood provided an idyllic setting in which to grow up as a pre-teen and teenager (Think “Leave It to Beaver,” and “Ozzie and Harriett,” or "Father Knows Best" -type of neighborhoods).
Sue Ann had many friends, played piano and excelled at dance and baton twirling. She performed in dance recitals and was always the star of the show, but her baton twirling skills were extraordinary (at least that’s what Larry said). She was an excellent student and any of her teachers who also taught Johnny always told him "I hope you are as good of a student as your sister." She played the clarinet in the West Orange High School band and was a twirler for the band for 4 years. In high school she was in cotillion, was named duchess of the Dogwood Festival, and voted “Best Dressed” by her classmates. There is no arguing that she was a beauty – both inside and out.
After graduating from West Orange High School in 1965, she went to Lamar University, where she was also a twirler and member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. It was there that she met and married Larry Boyette, to whom she remained married for forty-three years and with whom she built a Christian home in which to raise three daughters: Tammy, Shelly, and Jaime. As the wife of a football coach, she moved every few years but always worked tirelessly to provide an amazing home for the family of which she was extremely proud. As a mother, she modeled what it meant to work hard, to sacrifice and to love unconditionally.
Sue Ann worked as a teacher, cheer sponsor, and guidance counselor over the course of her 30-plus year career as an educator. She touched the lives of many children. Her belief in public education and in serving children was instilled in her daughters – all of whom are also educators. Her commitment to students and their families is evident in the large number of former students, parents and colleagues that have reached out to the family this week to remember her kindness and selflessness. She served in the Lions club, loved shopping, cooking (nearly famous for her gumbo), and traveling. She loved bluebonnets. Her favorite color was purple, her favorite food was shrimp and her favorite movie was “Steel Magnolias.”
Sue-Sue is survived by her brother, Retired Colonel John P. (Johnny) Dias and his wife, Lenora; her three daughters: Tammy Boyette, Shelly Black and Jaime Boyette; one son-in-law, James Black; nine grandchildren: Vallen Vaughan, Vance Vaughan, Vince Vaughan, Victoria Edwards, Rece Black, Rylan Black, Brant Boyette, Aiden Boyette, and Logan Boyette; and in-laws: Robin Boyette, Gary Boyette and Patti Boyette and their children.
Sue Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her in-laws: Maurice and Delores Boyette; Ronnie Boyette, and Judy Summers Boyette; a nephew, Blaine Boyette and her husband. She will be laid to rest in Forest Lawn cemetery in Beaumont, Texas next to her husband and surrounded by many other family members.
Sue was an amazing person whose death has left a huge void in our hearts but an indelible mark on our lives! The love she had for her family and shared with many others, is felt and will live on in the stories and memories we all share.
