Sue Smith

Born Mattie Emma Beauchamp, she was quickly renamed Sis-Sue as a child by her twin brother John Dee Beauchamp, who inherited her tonsils, as well as his own at birth. She was one of the last members of this country’s Greatest Generation, coming into this world only a year after World War I and 16 years after the Wright Brother’s famous flight, she waited only 50 more to see men walk on the moon.

Without her father’s permission, having secretly married a high school sweetheart, Ira Allen Burr Jr, in Rockport, Texas, she bore three children [Ira Allen Burr III, Dixie Anne Burr and Johnny Dee Burr], was privileged to have 8 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren, at least so far.  

This woman, who was 9 years old when Wyatt Earp was laid to rest also witnessed the disastrous events of the Great Depression, raised 2 children through World War II and introduced the subsequent singer-actor Tommy Sands to Nina Vance at the Alley Theater. During the 1950’s and 60’s, she socialized with Houston’s Elite, Houston Astros Players, as well as the reserved Neil Armstrong and gregarious Buzz Aldrin.

Mama [or Grandma] was passionate about many things. Her cake baking business, decorating store front windows at major retailers, as well as dabbling in real estate. Of course her first true passion was always to her family.

Mama/Grandma’s parking skills were also questionable. Back in the day she drove what we called “the boat” which was one of the biggest two door Chrysler ever built, even Lee Iacocca responded to the letters from her on that behemoth car. She could barely park it in two parking spaces and never in a straight line. You’d think the car had fish tailed if you didn’t know that she was the driver.  Who could forget when she pulled her van out of the garage and dragged the dishwasher into the driveway and didn’t notice it until she got to her destination and couldn’t open the driver’s door. We had to drive to a body shop and have the door un-warped so she could get in and out of the van. Then, when she got back home she couldn’t understand why there was a dishwasher in the driveway. Life with mama/grandma was always an adventure. Just ask John Allen about the time she and her sister, Martha got lost on 288.

Oft times her love came in the form of pancakes and bacon. There was always an incident when the kids got home from spending the weekend with her. Those pancakes and bacon took on a whole new light when they were being upchucked by two kiddos. I’m truly surprised my son survived eating all his Easter candy with the foil still on it. We’ll skip the excerpt on Grandma’s cookies!

She also was known for a life-long humorous side, whether she was accidentally taking a shower using her dog’s flea soap or letting the water in the boiling eggs totally boil out, which ended in multiple explosions in the kitchen. Let’s just say that there was never a dull moment with grandma. She rented property in Bacliff and one of her tenants was known to drop by with fresh fish or crabs. He came by late one evening & assured her they be okay to prepare in the morning. Since she was having friends and family over, she agreed to take the blue crabs. They were put into a 5 gallon bucket, the top secured with a heavy piece of wood and then a rock was added for good measure. Later we all awoke to yells from an inebriated family friend that “the floor is moving!”, “the floor is moving!” Sure enough, there were blue crabs crawling around the dining room!

In the end, here is wishing her a funny, wonderful and happy existence on the other side. To coalesce our thoughts, with the words of her decade long friend & care provider; mother, grandmother, great grandmother, we love you, will miss you to infinity and back and wanted the longevity of your own mother for you, but the hospital staff had other ideas.

Click HERE to view Sue's memorial slideshow.