Ellen Suzanne "Sue" Carpenter, 77, of Caruthersville, passed away February 9, 2022 after several years of battling complications from a stroke.

Sue was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri on February 12, 1944 to George Edward and Anita June Tillman.  After graduating high school in Hayti, Missouri, she earned her Bachelors in Education from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri.

Following her graduation, Sue married Robert Carpenter in February of 1965 and went on to have 4 children: Edward Leland Carpenter, Brian Matthew Carpenter, Stephen Robert Carpenter and Jason Lee Carpenter.

Sue was an accomplished classically trained pianist and a passionate educator. During the late 1970's and early 1980's, she worked as a substitute teacher for Albuquerque Public Schools in New Mexico before moving back to Hayti in 1986 where she taught for Hayti Public Schools.  She continued her education at SEMO in Cape Girardeau, earning her E.Ds. degree in adult education.  Soon after, she returned to New Mexico, returning to work for Albuquerque Public Schools and attended the University of New Mexico to complete her Masters in Training and Learning Technologies.

Sue made the transition to corporate education with Anheuser Busch and Magellan Health in St Louis before relocating to Indianapolis, Indiana to work with ITT Technical Institute.  Within a few years, she returned to her "home away from home" in Albuquerque, working again for Albuquerque Public Schools.  During her time with APS, she led initiatives to extend the public school's reach to rural New Mexico and to the Native American Pueblos of New Mexico, an accomplishment she took particular pride in.

In 2009, Sue retired from Albuquerque Public Schools and moved to Sturgis, South Dakota to spend time near her eldest living son Brian, his wife Laura, and their daughters Evelyn and Jordan. In spring of 2013, she left Sturgis and moved to Mauston, Wisconsin to spend time with her middle son Stephen and his wife JoLynn. In 2019 she suffered a stroke and moved back to Missouri, living in St Louis near her youngest son Jason, his wife Rachael and their children Anya and Isaac.

She overcame many obstacles in her rehabilitation from her stroke and was proud to have fought back to live independently from 2019 to 2021.  In the late spring of 2021, she decided to move back home to the Bootheel and chose Southgate Living Center in Caruthersville as her new home.  She enjoyed seeing her sister Dianne Maclin and her brother-in-law Jerry Maclin every time she could and was happy to be back to her true home in the Bootheel area.  Sadly, on Wednesday February 9th, she passed away.

Sue was predeceased by her son, Edward Leland Carpenter, her father, George Edward "Ed" Tillman I, her mother Anita Tillman, and her brother, George Edward "Eddie" Tillman II.  She is survived by her brother Bobby and his wife Sharon, her sister Dianne, her sister-in-law Mary, her sons Brian, Stephen and Jason, her grandchildren Anya, Evelyn, Jordan, and Isaac Carpenter and many nieces and nephews.

The family is holding a private gathering in celebration of her life.  They offer sincere appreciation for all the love and support of those who helped Sue through her life.

John W. German Funeral Home of Hayti in charge of services.