Susan Irene Wilkerson
Susan Irene Wilkerson, 63 of Marshfield, MO graduated to heaven on Saturday, December 16, 2017. Susan was born Susan Irene Brown on May 15, 1954 in Marshfield, MO to L. Dale Brown and Clara (Letterman) January. She is the oldest child of a large, wonderful family that includes 11 children, in addition to her stepparents, Mary Brown and Alec January.
Sue is preceded in death by her husband, Dean Wilkerson; her parents, Dale and Mary Brown and Clara and Alec January; her brothers, Dale Brown, Steve Brown and Tom January.
Sue is survived by her children; daughter Krissie Leach and husband John, of Porterville, CA; son, Kenny Wilkerson and wife Cherie, of Seymour, MO; son, Keith Wilkerson and wife Heather, of Marshfield, MO; her grand children Delton and Morgan Wilkerson, Seymour, MO; Landry and Kenzlie Leach, Porterville, CA; Elizabeth and Erik Wilkerson, Marshfield, MO. Additionally she is survived by sisters, Betty January and husband Bryon, of Niangua, MO. Liz Cox and husband Steve, of Evansville, Indiana; Lori Peck and husband Steve, of Springfield, MO. She is survived by brothers Rick Brown and wife Kathy of Willard, MO; Robert Brown and wife Gladys of Conway, MO; Joey January and wife Katherine of Strafford, MO; Donnie Scheetz and wife Tami, of Niangua, MO. As well as her sister-in-law Bess Brown of Fordland, MO; Deanna Brown of Springfield, MO and Delores Wilkerson and husband Terry Chastain of Ava, MO; and brother-in-law David Wilkerson and wife Jo, of Seymour, MO. Many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
As a young child, Sue lived in Niangua, MO and Marshfied, MO, moving to Topeka, KS and later, Auburn, KS where she attended upper elementary and middle school. Her mom and step-father eventually settled in Strafford, Missouri where she graduated from Strafford High School in 1972. In 1974, she met and married the love of her life, Dean Wilkerson and to that union, they had three children. Sue spent many years working at Pearl and Vern’s truck stop on East Kearney in Springfield, MO as a waitress where she developed a close, loving friendship with her dear friends Thelma Brooks and Mary Jo Dodson. In the early 1990’s, Sue began working at OACAC Head Start, as a Cook and working her way to a Family Advocate position where she spent many years helping families to access high quality, early learning for their pre-school children. Sue believed in Head Start and the mission of Community Action. She touched many families in her journey as a Family Advocate as she worked in Springfield, Greenfield and Bolivar. Because of Head Start, she developed many close friendships with other wonderful women striving to support families on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Sue’s faith was an important part of her life. She often referred to her self as a “holy roller.” She ensured that her children were at church each time the door was open. She was actively involved in children’s ministry and prayer groups while her children were young and continued to be involved in church in her last years and months on this earth. When Sue prayed, she prayed with authority, believing, and standing firm on God’s Word. If you were apart of her life, she prayed for you. The most important thing to know about Sue, is that she loved Jesus. Throughout her life, she relied on God’s word to get her through tragic situations such as losing her husband of 23 years.
The most important people in Sue’s life were her children and grandchildren. She loved her three children and six grandchildren deeply. She never missed a moment to hug them and tell them how much she loved them.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2018 at 1:00pm at Four Rivers Church, 317 Pleasant Prairie Road Marshfield, MO. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Four Rivers Church P.O. Box 53 Marshfield, MO 65706, as she loved her church family very much and spoke of them often. Donations can also be made to Sinking Creek Cemetery Association c/o Wayne Ringgenberg 1553 East US Highway 160 Everton, Missouri 65646, toward the care and upkeep of her resting place.