June Sue Corley Beach

June Sue Corley Beach, a woman of unwavering grace, resilience, and love, was born on April 12, 1930, in Shallowater, Texas, to Exa Sue and E.L. Corley. Sue's early life was shaped by challenges that forged her strength of character. Although she had several half-sisters and a half-brother, Sue grew up as an only child. Her mother, a devoted elementary school teacher, instilled a lifelong love of learning in Sue. At just 13, Sue faced the loss of her father, who tragically passed away while campaigning for Lubbock County Commissioner during World War II. At the same time, her half-brother, Pat Corley, endured the harsh conditions of a German POW camp, injured but resilient. Despite these hardships, Sue found strength in her mother's courage as they navigated rationing, scarcity, and the trials of the war years.
Sue graduated from Shallowater High School and began her studies at Texas Tech University, working in the campus library. Financial difficulties ultimately curtailed her university education, but they never dampened her passion for libraries - a love she pursued throughout her life. Sue's story is one of finding beauty and purpose in every chapter.
Sue met the love of her life, Earl Gene Beach, on a blind date. Earl Gene's adventurous spirit captured Sue's heart as he would fly his plane over her house in Shallowater, dropping soda-bottle messages or landing in nearby fields to whisk her away for dates. Despite initial reservations from her mother, Earl Gene's selflessness won over Exa Sue when he flew her across the state to visit family - a gesture that cemented his place in the family. Sue and Earl Gene were married on December 7, 1947, beginning a remarkable partnership that lasted 65 years.
Settling in the Cotton Center community of Hale County, Sue and Earl Gene built a life grounded in family, faith, and hard work. Together, they raised three children - William Earl, Gary Lee, and Susan Diane - while running a family farm, a grocery store, and a Phillips 66 distributorship. Sue balanced the demands of motherhood and work with grace and remained a pillar of her community. In the 1960s, she helped establish a library at the First Baptist Church of Cotton Center - a reflection of her deep commitment to nurturing knowledge and community. Later, she returned to her Methodist roots, joyfully playing the piano at the Cotton Center Methodist Church.
In 1993, Sue and Earl Gene relocated to Terlingua, Texas, seeking relief for Sue's arthritis in the milder climate. Once again, Sue's love for libraries shone through as she helped create a library for Terlingua Elementary School and worked at the Warnock Center library at Big Bend State Park. Their time in Terlingua was marked by new adventures and cherished memories, as they explored North and Central America, Europe, and beyond.
Sue's life was one of boundless love, service, and adventure. Her legacy is carried forward by her two sons, seven grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren, and the many friends whose lives she touched. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Earl Gene; her cherished daughter, Susan Diane; her parents, Exa Sue and E.L. Corley; and her half-brother, Pat.
Even as dementia tested her in her later years, Sue's gracious spirit remained. Caregivers often spoke of her enduring sweetness and kindness. Her family remembers her as a shining example of a life well-lived, a woman who faced adversity with courage and embraced joy wherever she found it. Her son reflects, "I am profoundly grateful to have shared my life with such a remarkable mother, and I owe endless thanks to my loving wife Cassandra, whose steadfast support during difficult times was a gift beyond measure."
June Sue Corley Beach will be deeply missed but forever celebrated by those who had the privilege of knowing and loving her. May her memory inspire us to live with kindness, strength, and a commitment to making the world a better place.
The family asks in place of flowers to donate to the Dementia Society, www.dementiasociety.org, in Memory of Sue Corley Beach. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of June Sue, please visit our Tree Store.