Carolyn “Sue” (Ridenour) Rush, 77, of Greenwood, Arkansas passed away on Saturday, July 26, 2025 with family at her side. Sue was born in Checotah, Oklahoma on October 11, 1947 to John Henry and Millie Patricia (Romines) Ridenour.
Sue was raised moving around a lot due to her dad being a “logger” and he had to go where the lumber was. Sue went to four different schools in the 6th grade. Sue graduated from Cameron, OK High School in 1965, where she played basketball and softball in school.
Sue obtained her LPN licenses, then her RN degree, where she was a member of PHI Theta Kappa, which is national honors society. Sue worked as an RN and Nursing Consultant until retirement in 2002. Sue is a member of the Who Who’s in American Nursing and Executive Nursing.
Sue then went to work with her husband in the grocery stores until he sold them in 2004. Her husband did not like retirement, so he went to Oklahoma City to build houses. Sue followed him there, she decided she would get her real estate license to sell Paul’s homes. Quite a team they did make. Sue sold the houses as fast or faster than Paul could build them. Sue sold three custom homes in one weekend. Needless to say, she was proud of herself.
Sue was a “go-getter” from a very early age. She has tried many things over the years, some successful and some not so successful. There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t attempt at least once. She loved her job, the people she worked with, Sue just loved life and everyone in it. She loved doing flower arrangements, wreaths, interior decorating and working in her flower beds, which she later decided she made to many flower beds and pots.
BUT, her real hobby began when her first grandchild was born. Then two years later there was another grandchild, and they just kept coming, making Sue one happy Mimi. She was very devoted to those grandchildren; you could just see her eyes and face brighten when she talked about her precious grandchildren.
Sue had a servant’s heart, she was a powerhouse, always willing to help others.
Sue was highly respected and valued as a mentor, friend and colleague. Sue was a member of Greenwood First Baptist.
Sue is survived by her husband, Paul Rush; two sons, Mike Rush (Crystal) and Brian Rush (Story); one daughter, Misty Teague and five grandchildren, Rowdy, Laken, Lindsey, Briar and Hanna; two sisters, Joyce of Spiro and Rena Minks (Danny) of Fort Smith; one brother, Johnnie Ridenour of Cameron and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m., Thursday, July 31 at Greenwood First Baptist Church with burial at Liberty Cemetery under the direction of McConnell Funeral Home of Greenwood. Viewing will be Wednesday from 1 – 7 p.m. at the church, where the family will visit with friends from 5 – 7 p.m.
Pallbearers will be Daren Cox, Jeff Minks, Jarrod Ridenour, Kendall Ridenour, Dylan Minks and Billy Sanford. Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Sanford, Bobby Shackelford, Harold Smith, Travis Hawkins, Don Nelms, Justin Ahne and Stanhope Wilkinson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Make A Wish Foundation, NW Arkansas Office, One West Mountain, Suite 108, Fayetteville, AR 72701.
To share a memory or leave a message for the family, please visit www.mcconnellfh.com.
