Tributes

Susan Janet Parkes Roberts Mama Sue went to give the Lord a piece of her mind on July 25, 2014. She'll be fair, but she won't be subtle. Susan lived life at full speed, head on. She died too young at 56, but she filled that time with at least 112 years of living. And giving. Her heart was simply not strong enough to withstand the pace, yet still contain all the love that overflowed it. Susan's father, Dr. J. Carter Parkes died when she was only nine, leaving a void in her life that is only now being soothed. She is survived by her mother, Alice Smith, who she sometimes exasperated but whom she always cherished, and her step-father, Dr. Emerson Smith. Susan has gone on ahead to pave the way for the two most important people in the world, grandchildren Leah Mae and Elliott Keith Torrez. Do not mess with them. Mama Sue is watching. Susan's daughter, Melissa Torrez, and Melissa's husband Patrick have retained temporary custody of Leah and Elliott. It's barely possible that Susan was even prouder of Melissa than she was of the kids. Susan's first husband, Melissa's father Ronnie Brown, remained a friend throughout her life. Her second husband, Bill Roberts, must carry on without the best grandparenting partner, ever. Susan's younger sister, Mary Alice Masterson, and Mary's husband Dave never wavered in their support of her. Susan's baby brother, Joe Parkes, survived a childhood of torture by Susan and Mary to become the consensus "Nicest Man in the World." He celebrates Susan's life with his wife, Tammie. Susan's nephew, Michael Masterson, and nieces Michelle Masterson and Allison Carter and Katie Parkes will remember her as the aunt you always wanted to visit: Popsicles for breakfast and a PG movie if you promised not to tell. Susan would butt heads with her step-father, Dr. Emerson Smith, in legendary, epic bouts, but she always respected his ability as a healer and his love for her mother. She always considered him and his sons Steven, Stuart, Bruce and Danny and their families to be her family. Susan had far too many friends to list without it becoming the size of a large city phone book. Like the old story, if Susan had visited the Vatican you could have asked anyone in St. Peter's Square who was up on the balcony. The answer would have been, "I'm not sure about the guy in the pointy hat, but that woman is Mama Sue!" Susan cherished the love of Vivian, Gina, Amy, Michael, Jeff, Chastity, Nick, Jennifer, and so many others beside. She would hate this list, though, as it is woefully incomplete. Susan would not mind if you knew she was a graduate of Sherman Texas High School and East Texas State University. That she worked as a nurse, that she served many years as the Executive Director of the Hunt County Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, that following her move to San Antonio she became a highly-commended member of the accounting staff at La Canterra Resort. But she would not want these things to be mistaken for her life. Susan's life was people. The people she loved, the people she worked to help, even the people she contested in causes that were dear to her. She was many things, but she was never insincere. Susan's friends and family will gather to remember her on July 28, 2014, but that will not be the end. Please feel free to contact anyone mentioned above for details on the upcoming, first annual Mama Sue Bar-B-Que and Doo-Dah-Doo Festival in October, 2014. Susan, if anyone does, has a spirit that will live on. We love you, Woman. We'll miss you, but we know we'll see you soon. If you would like to honor Susan's memory, in lieu of flowers she would be proud of any donation to Planned Parenthood or similar organizations supporting women in need.

Tributes

Susan Janet Parkes Roberts

November 5, 1957 - July 27, 2014