Elizabeth Sue Stewart Wood

Elizabeth Sue Stewart Wood of Waco– beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend–died April 14, 2025 at the age of 84.

Visitation: 1pm to 2pm Friday, April 18^th at Lake Shore Funeral Home, Waco, TX

Funeral Service: Friday, April 18^th at Lake Shore Funeral Home, Waco, TX

Interment: Whitney Memorial Park, Whitney, TX

Elizabeth is survived by her son, Anthony Wood; daughter-in-law, Carol Wood; grandson, Seth Wood, all of Waco; sister-in-law, Peg Stewart; four nieces; three nephews; and her canine companion, Keela. She was preceded in death by her parents, W.D. “Chick” and Ruth Stewart; brother, William James Stewart; daughter, Sandra Wood; sister, Bonnie Stewart Smith; and brother, Robert Douglas Stewart. Of the four Stewart children, Betty Sue was the oldest. She was born June 28, 1940, and grew up near the town of Whitney, on land that got flooded to make the lake.

Elizabeth’s grandfather on her mother’s side, J.I. Ferguson, ran the general store and a blacksmith shop in the community of Towash, and he taught young Sue how to run the store and count back change when she was very little. He spoiled her with candy and kisses, and she deserved every bit of it because as the oldest she had to help take care of her brother Bill and sister Bonnie, and later another brother, Bobby.

Her parents were tenant farmers, who mainly grew cotton and peanuts, and Betty Sue learned to pick cotton at an early age. She milked the cow and she cooked for the family. She worked hard.
Betty Sue graduated from Whitney High School in 1958. That same year, she married a local boy, Jay Wood. They had two children, Sandra and Tony. Jay served in the U.S. Air Force, and his service took the family to Del Rio, Tucson, Amarillo, Virginia Beach, and Wichita Falls. Jay also served in Vietnam. The family settled in Waco in the late 1970s, where Sue worked in the restaurant business for a number of years before becoming a licensed vocational nurse and working at the V.A. hospital in Waco for 19 years. She retired in 2008.

Betty Sue valued her children and extended family, especially her grandson Seth. Seth was her pride and joy. She faithfully attended his sporting events in all the years when he was growing up. She bragged about his excellent grades and musical talents. She enjoyed showing off photos of his woodworking projects to everyone around her.

Sue was an excellent cook, known at family reunions for her potato salad and sweet breads. She was practical and thrifty and liked to give gifts that were useful in some way. She was humble. She enjoyed life’s simple pleasures.

A longtime member of Columbus Avenue Baptist Church, Betty Sue volunteered for various good causes over the years, and she made friends with the ladies in her Sunday School class.
Those who knew Elizabeth Sue will remember her fun sense of humor, her entertaining stories, and her kindhearted nature. She will be missed.

“Blessed are those who die in the Lord.”.

Place of Service: Lake Shore Funeral Home , 5201 Steinbeck Bend; Waco, TX 76708