Photo courtesy of Baier Family Funeral Services - Paxton
May 20, 1938 - Aug 16, 2021 (Age 83)
Dale & June, i am sorry to hear your mom passed away. I will never forget her kind hearted spirit. She always approached Adam with such pride knowing he was her sons #1 fan. I remember her saying "Sue Benear sounds like Souvenir"
She always had a smile on her face. Rest easy Sue. Much love.
Cindy Parker
October 12, 2021 | Palm Springs, CA | Acquaintance
May your hearts soon be filled with wonderful memories of joyful times together as you celebrate a life well lived.
Nancy Dewey
August 31, 2021 | Paxton, IL | Friend
Offering our sympathy.
Bob and Jan Roller
August 22, 2021 | Gibson City, IL | Friend
I had Mrs Benear as a PE teacher for my 7th & 8th grade years at Buckley-Loda, she was a wonderful teacher. My thoughts and prayers are with her family during this difficult time.
Marge Schroeder
August 21, 2021 | Paxton, IL | Student
Rest in peace Mrs Benear,I loved you as a PE teacher.
Kathy Christensen
August 20, 2021 | Cissna Park, IL | Student
Our prayers and thoughts with Tom and all family. We have many memories of good times shared.
Fran & Jerry Martin
August 20, 2021 | Loda, IL | Friend
I have memories of her being my gym teacher. Whatever we had to do she made sure to show us that she could do too.
RUTH WILLIAMSON
August 20, 2021 | BUCKLEY, IL | Student
I’m so shocked to hear about this. She was such a sweet lady, loved hearing her jokes and she always brightened everyone’s day. I remember her well as a bus driver. She will be missed dearly. Rest In Peace Mrs. Benear.
Corinne Hopper
August 19, 2021 | Paxton, IL | Student
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Diana Riggins
August 19, 2021 | Washington, NC | Friend
Sue Belle Benear, 83, of Rantoul formerly of Paxton passed away at 10:55 p.m. Monday, August 16, 2021 at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Sunday, August 22, 2021 at First Baptist Church, 401 Glenwood Drive, Rantoul with Pastor Dan DeWitt officiating. Burial will follow in Glen Cemetery, Paxton.
Visitation will be Saturday, August 21, 2021 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at Baier Family Funeral Services, 406 E Pells, Paxton and one hour prior to the service at the church Sunday.
Sue was born May 20, 1938 in Raywick, Kentucky the daughter of William Henry Newlon Peterson and Annie Conward Claycomb Peterson. She married Thomas Benear January 28, 1963 at the First Baptist Church, Paxton. He survives.
Along with her husband, Tom of 58 years, she is survived by two daughters, Bonita (Christian) Pope of Johnson City, Tennessee, June (Mark) Hall of Rantoul; one son, Dale (Debby) Benear of Paxton; four grandchildren, Taylor Pope, Morgan Pope, Dustin Benear, Nathan Benear; two sisters, Virginia Render of Rockville, Maryland and June Smith of Elizabethtown, Kentucky.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Sue spent her childhood in Kentucky and graduated from Lebanon High School, Lebanon, Kentucky. She obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky where she also played clarinet in the marching band. Sue began her education career as the 6th grade teacher in Onarga. She was the first P.E. teacher at the newly built Paxton High School, then became the girls P.E. teacher at Buckley-Loda school system where she also taught English before finishing her career at Paxton-Buckley-Loda, retiring after 33 years as an educator. While she was a teacher, she also drove a school bus for many years. Following her retirement, she continued teaching as a substitute and still drove a bus. She worked at what was known as the Assembly Hall, then later the State Farm Center as an usher for over 20 years. She loved to stay busy!
She was an active member of First Baptist Church, Paxton. Sue was choir director, Sunday School teacher and Director and teacher of Vacation Bible School for many years. During one summer in college, she was a missionary in the states of Washington and Oregon. She was a member of the Illinois Retired Teachers Association.
Sue was an avid bowler, enjoyed camping, cross stich, reading, and sudoku. She also played cards where she was known to be very competitive.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Rantoul or Centro Evangelico Isola,C.da Tembrietta 241, 64045 Isola del Gran Sasso (TE), Italy https://isola.net/eng. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.baierfuneralservices.com.
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