Sue Felkins

Sue McFarlin Felkins, 85, of Jonesboro passed from this life on Saturday, October 31, 2020 at The Springs of Jonesboro. She was born to Coy and Ruth (Richie) McFarlin on October 16, 1935, in Lake City, AR.

Sue attended Lake City school and then moved to Bono where she graduated. She became a Navy wife in 1954. While moving from base to base she managed to give birth to five children in six years. Moving back and forth across the United States with her family in tow and her husband often out on a ship made her into a strong, independent woman who learned to sew her children’s clothes and cook family meals on a tight budget.

In 1971 she and her husband left the Navy and returned to Jonesboro, where they would open Suzuki Cycle Center. Their business was successful due to their hard work and helped them instill a strong work ethic into their children. Their business won several awards that took them on vacations to Japan, Hawaii and Mexico. When the business closed Sue went on to work at Gambles Uniform Shop, Jimco, and Counseling Associates.

Sue was most known for having a spirited, fun and creative personality. Some examples of this were when she gathered enough seashells to cover a table lamp and wallpapered her washer and dryer when she wanted a change.  You never knew what color her walls might be painted!  She enjoyed having kids over to decorate Christmas Cookies and was well known for her peanut brittle.

With others she formed the local Parents Without Partners (PWP) group where she was a valued member and sometimes President. She loved entertaining family and friends at her house, gardening, music and spending time with her animals. Most of all she loved her Grandchildren. While many thought her 5 children were her pride and joy, it soon became known that they took second place to her Grandchildren (Jessica, Logan, Scott, April, Tim and Caleb). She was well known as either Mama Sue or Grandma Sue. Throughout the years she also enjoyed having fun and playing tricks on her nieces and nephews. There really was not anything Sue couldn’t do if she put her mind to it.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Lucille McLaughlin, GC McFarlin, Virginia Jaquess, Sonny McFarlin, and Harold Lloyd McFarlin.

Sue is survived by her five children , Keith Felkins (Evelyn), Bridget Taylor, Susan Beasley (Lynn) all of Jonesboro, Kevin Felkins (Carol) of Springdale, AR and Kelly Felkins (Jane) of Brookings, OR and former husband Leon Felkins (Diane). In addition, her 6 grandchildren mentioned above and 3 great grandchildren (Korbin and Inari Foster, and Camryn Beasley). She has one surviving sister, Ellen Cox and her very special sister and friend Earline Hendrix. Sue also leaves behind several nieces, nephews, friends and “fur grandchildren.”

Anyone wishing to honor her memory may make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org), The Arkansas Pet Savers (https://tapsrescue.weebly.com/donate.html), NEA Humane Society (Neahs.org), the Alzheimer’s Association (ALZ.org), St. Bernards Hospice House or any charity of your choice.

There will be a Virtual Celebration of life on Wednesday, November 4 @ 7:00 p.m. CST.

We would love for everyone to attend and participate.

For access information please contact Susan Beasley at bzybeas@gmail.com or call Susan at 870.882.4042.