Sue Nichols Lefes

Sue Nichols Lefes passed away on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 while under Hospice care at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary. She was born April 30, 1931 in Knightdale, North Carolina, the second of two children, to the late Almus Lee Nichols and Sadie Belle Shearon Nichols. Her formative years were spent growing up on a farm in Knightdale where she was involved in 4-H activities. She graduated from the University of North Carolina Womens College in Greensboro, North Carolina with a BS in Home Economics. While an undergraduate, she traveled to Western Australia as a 4-H International Farm Youth Exchange student for six months where she lived and worked with families on several sheep ranches. During her senior year of college, she attended an IFYE conference and met her future husband, William (Bill) Lefes.In 1960, when Bill was hired by the new federal US Agency for International Development, the young family moved to the newly created country of Somalia. This was the first of eight multi-year postings in Bill and Sue's 27 year tenure in USAID. Sue was able to put her experiences, growing up on a farm with incredible role models and leadership opportunities through 4-H and her college education in Home Economics, planning for each household move and tackling the real challenges to provide nutritious food and creating a home for her family in Somalia and Uganda. She also managed subsequent family moves to Vienna, Virginia, the Philippines, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ghana and to Cary, North Carolina at retirement. Sue held various administrative positions in both USAID missions while living overseas and in private businesses in the US with her last position with White Plains UMC in Cary. When Sue and Bill retired to Cary, North Carolina, they became Program Coordinators for North Carolina 4-H International youth exchange programs with LABO in Japan and CAPS in Costa Rica. Sue and Bill were members of White Plains Methodist Church and more recently, First United Methodist Church of Cary. In addition to involvement in her church circle, Cary Womens Club, book club and various committees at Glenaire, Sue dedicated time to writing her favorite life stories to be shared and cherished by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will be missed by family and friends.Sue is survived by her son Lee; daughter Patricia (John) Donohoo; grandchildren, Jen Donohoo and Sarah (Ben) Talbert; and great-grandchildren, Luke, Judah and Asher, as well as nieces and nephews.A service in her honor will be held January 13, 2025 at Glenaire Retirement Community in Cary at 10:00 AM. There will be a private inurnment with family members. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Cary United Methodist Church, 117 S. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27511; Glenaire Retirement Community ( https://www.glenaire.org/Ways-to-Give/) or any charity of your choice.
Memorial Service
Monday, January 13, 2025
10:00 AM -
Glenaire Retirement Community
4000 Glenaire Circle
Cary NC 27511
US
Funeral HomeCremation Society of the Carolinas
2205 East Millbrook Road
Raleigh NC - 27604
US
(919) 571-3300
(919) 877-0207
(800) 993-5333 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Sue, please visit our Tree Store.