Sue Brownlee

JOHNSTON CITY -- Sue F. Brownlee, a longtime resident of St. Louis, passed away at 11:03 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2011, of complications from inoperable pancreatic cancer after a courageous battle of almost two years.

She was born Sue Francisco on Feb. 13, 1953, at Herrin Hospital and grew up in Johnston City. She attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where she obtained her bachelor's and master's degrees in health education, studying under the renowned teacher, Bob Russell. Her 1978 Master's thesis, "The Barefoot Doctors: A Study of Improvements in Health Care in the People's Republic of China under Mao Tse-tung," won wide acclaim.

She married her husband, Bob, a partner in the St. Louis law firm Thompson Coburn LLC, in 1978 and moved to St. Louis. After a brief period of public school teaching she began a career in private sector health education. She worked for 17 years in what is now the BJC system, first at Missouri Baptist and then at BJC after their combination. Although recently retired for seven years, she remained active in volunteer training for health care providers including physicians, and held three American Red Cross certifications in CPR and related fields.

She was active in charitable causes and a supporter of Forest Park Forever, Friends of the St. Louis Zoo and numerous other local organizations. In 2008, she was the silent auction chair of the annual Justice for All Ball to benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. The next year she was the volunteer chair of the event. In February, she was the honorary chair of the 2011 Ball.

She was preceded in death by her father, Henry Francisco; and her uncle, Albert Francisco, for whom she cared lovingly for several years. She is survived by Bob; her mother, Mary Francisco; her sisters, Vanessa and Beth; and her brother, Archie; Vanessa's husband, Jeff Maxie, and Archie's wife, Dee; her nephew, Brad; her nieces, Brooke, Stephanie and Laura; as well their spouses and children. She also is survived by her buddies, Sam and Abe the cats; and her beloved rescue, Derby, the dog.

Her funeral will be at Murman and Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City, at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 1, with Pastor Larry Stevens officiating. Interment will be in Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 31, at the funeral home. Memorial services in Sue's honor will be scheduled at a later date in Forest Park in St. Louis, and in the Marshall County Subdivision at Kentucky Lake where Sue and Bob enjoyed more than 20 recreational seasons at their lakeside property.

The family wants to express special thanks to oncologist, Dr. Joel Picus; his head nurse, Ms. Pat Dulle and all of the caregivers at the Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes-Jewish Hospital who worked so hard and successfully to give her a good quality of life during her battle with cancer.

The family requests that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution do so to Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis for the benefit of pancreatic cancer research, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri or a charity of their choice.

For more information or to sign the guest register, visit www.murmanandwilson.com.