Constance Arline "Sue" Matheis

1925 - 2025

Matheis, Constance Arline "Sue"

March 8, 1925 - February 9, 2025

Matheis, Constance Arline "Sue" (nee Campbell), passed on February 9, 2025. Born on March 8, 1925 in Woodhaven, LI, NY, Sue was preceded in death by her parents, Winifred and George Campbell, her sister, Jean Horan, and her oldest son, Scott Matheis. She is survived by her four children, Terri, Todd (Anne), and Michael Matheis (Dana) and Leslie Hoffmeister, and thirteen grandchildren, respectively, Jimmy, Ryan and Michael Kennedy and Molly Lamping; Alex and Cole Matheis; Case, Mariah, Campbell and Holt Matheis; Stephen, Tom and Kevin Hoffmeister.

A graduate of Mary Louis Academy high school in Long Island, NY she attended Southern Seminary and Junior College in Virginia before transferring to Sarah Whitley's New York School. In 1944, she moved to New York City and worked at the Argentine Trade Corporation. At the end of WWII and with the resurgence of passenger flights, Sue was chosen for a Pan-American Airways film touting New York City.

In her marriage to Richard Matheis, their children were born in three cities before settling in Clayton, Missouri in 1963. Sue found her passion for aviation in 1965 at the age of 40, earning her private pilot's license, then her license for commercial and instrument ratings. She was an active member of the St Louis Chapter of the Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots. In 1975 she became the first woman in Missouri to obtain a helicopter license. Known as "Sue in Copter Two", she was Missouri's first female on-air traffic reporter for KMOX radio and also handled normal reporting duties.

Upon retirement in 1990 at 65, St Louis County proclaimed March 8 as Sue Adieu Day. Sue continued writing columns and articles for various publications. She was also involved in start-up businesses, Insight/Impact for handwriting analysis and personnel consulting, and the St Louis Riverfront Trolley Tours. In her later years she became interested in nutrition, especially the health benefits of glyconutrients. She became an educator and a distributor, and remained actively engaged in this until she was 97 years old.

Living a long and purposeful life, Sue touched many with her friendship, kindness, and love marked by a commitment to helping others. In her memory, she encourages everyone to discover their purpose and just do it.

A private service will be held for family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Ninety-Nines, Inc Scholarship Fund, to give other women the opportunity to spread their wings. www.ninety-nines.org/donation.htm. Full obituary at boppchapel.com