Martha Sue Willis Keath

Martha Sue Willis Keath passed away on October 7 just shy of her 99th birthday. She was the middle of three daughters born to Guy and Claudia Hughes Willis. Martha Sue was the widow of John Beard Keath. Martha Sue was a lifetime resident of Woodruff County. After graduating from Laura Conner High School, she studied fashion design at Texas Woman’s University. Before marrying, she taught school in Gregory, Arkansas. After the death of her husband, she served as farm manager for Keath Farms for over 40 years. This helped develop her interest in doing land abstracts working out of the John D. Eldridge Law Firm. As a young adult, she was presented as a Maid at the Cotton Carnival in Memphis. She was a very talented seamstress, knitter, furniture refinisher and artist. She loved her hometown. One of her prized projects was her collection of Augusta landmarks that she scaled into wood cut-outs and painted in detail. The landmarks include the Methodist, Baptist and Presbyterian churches as well as the Woodruff County Courthouse and the Laura Conner High School. Through the years, Martha Sue was active in her PEO chapter, served on the board of the Augusta Memorial Park Association and was a founding member of the Augusta Improvement Club. She joined the First United Methodist Church as a youth and served on many church committees and boards. Martha Sue is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and two sisters – Dorothy Willis and Ara Nell Hopper. “SuSu” is survived by her son John Watt Keath and his wife Jeanette and by her daughter Jan Keath Patterson and her husband Steve as well as four grandchildren Keath Patterson (Jen), Stephanie Patterson Brown (Robert), Sarah Keath and Laura Keath Petrus (Hunter). She leaves five great grandchildren: Delaney and Nate Patterson and Maxwell, Spencer and Samantha Brown. She also leaves two nieces: Andrea Hopper Williams and Karen Keath Guyton and their families. SuSu was able to remain at home thanks to the loving care and help of Betty Wells, Mae Woodell, Barbara Mosby and her own granddaughter Sarah Keath. A special thank you to Gloria Woods for her many years of friendship and support. The family would like to acknowledge all of her friends that have filled her life with love. Graveside services will be at the Augusta Memorial Park on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Melanie Tubbs officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral home of Woodruff County. www.powellfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church, Box 452, Augusta, AR 72006, the Woodruff County Library Foundation, 201 Mulberry St, Augusta, AR 72006 or to a charity of your choice.

Martha Sue Willis Keath

October 15, 1922 - October 7, 2021