Suzanne LaMaster Box

Suzanne “Suzy” Bernice LaMaster Box, a native Houstonian who spent much of her adult life in Sugar Land while also living in Fort Worth and Killeen, died Friday March 4 at Colonial Oaks Assisted Living and Memory Care in Sugar Land. She was born on May 25, 1940 in Houston to Lewis and Betty LaMaster.

Suzy, as her friends called her, attended Lamar High School and received a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Texas in 1962. Before attending the University of Texas she spent a year at Lindenwood College in Missouri. She pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma at the University of Texas following in her mother and sisters' footsteps and made lifelong friends in the sorority that were dear to her heart.

After graduation she worked as a first grade school teacher at Sutton Elementary in Sharpstown. She married Roy Edgar Box, Jr. from Corpus Christi on February 1, 1964 in Houston. She and Roy lived in Houston for seven years before relocating to Fort Worth. During this time they welcomed a daughter, Betty Jo, and a son, David Roy.

When Suzy moved back to Sugar Land, She became very involved in the Sugar Creek Garden Club serving as President. She also was a founding board member of CASA of Fort Bend County and served as a board member of the Sugar Land Business Park Utility Water District for over 10 years.

After many years of volunteering Suzy went to work as the first Program Director of Literacy Volunteers of Fort Bend County. She then became the Executive Director of Fort Bend County Human Needs Ministry.

Suzy was an advocate for children, especially for children with dyslexia. She started the Dyslexic program in the Fort Bend County ISD, which led to her private practice of tutoring dyslexic children of all ages for 15 years. She is warm and nurturing and brings out the best in others.

Suzy was very involved in the Junior League of Houston and Fort Worth with placements in the Junior League Tea room, Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Music Therapy Program. Her passions were family, friends and song. Suzy would be found singing in a church choir wherever they lived.

She is survived by her husband, Roy Edgar Box, Jr. of Richmond, Texas; her daughter, Betty Jo Box Nelson, of Victoria, Texas and husband, Michael Scott Nelson; her son, David Roy Box, and wife, Diana Nefkens Box of Frisco, Texas; six grandchildren, Elizabeth Kelley Nelson, Randall Gunn Nelson, Carter Hamilton Nelson, Katherine Anthony Box, Emily Anne Box, and Christopher David Box; sisters, Betty Lou LaMaster Crittenden and Jan LaMaster Redford and husband, David Redford; sister-in-law, JoAnn Grady; and nieces and nephews.

Memorial service and visitation arrangements are being handled by The Settegast-Kopf Company Funeral Directors in Sugar Land. The visitation will be held on Friday, March 11 from 6pm-8pm at The Settegast-Kopf Company at 15015 Southwest Freeway, Sugar Land Texas 77478. A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 2pm on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at Sugar Land First United Methodist Church at 431 Eldridge Road, Sugar Land, Texas 77478.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made in Suzy’s memory to the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, 12530 Emily Court, Sugar Land, TX 77478 or www.ftbendliteracy.org/ways-to-donate.htm