Sue (Burkdoll) Ellison-White

Marion Sue Burkdoll Ellison White was born on September 2, 1933 to Loretta W. (Hamby) Burkdoll and Loyd Farrel Burkdoll.  She passed away in Oklahoma City, OK on Tuesday, April 19, 2016 with her family at her side. Sue spent her early years in the Blackburn and Maramec School area moving to Pawnee in the 8th grade and graduating from Pawnee High School in 1951.  She was the drum majorette and played saxophone in the PHS band.  She was also fortunate enough to be a member of a group of students, led by Ashley Alexander that traveled around the local area and the United States performing at many churches and civic organizations.  After graduating from PHS, she attended Oklahoma State A&M where she was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority.   Sue moved to Brownfield, Texas where she worked at the Brownfield News as a receptionist and secretary where she would meet Curry Elwin Ellison.  They met when Curry, who was assisting his brother in remodeling the office next to her office, knocked remnants of a wall down on her and her desk.  Sue and Curry were married on May 9, 1954 in Tucumcari, NM and would begin their life together in Lubbock, Texas where she would work for the Furr's Supermarket Corporate Office. They had four children; Ricki, David, Burk and Lisa and would spend their lives living in Hobbs, Farmington, Albuquerque, NM and Lawton, OK.   Sue developed a love for nursing when she went to work as a receptionist for Dr. Raymond Sitta in Farmington, NM and Dr.  W. E.  Cohenhour in Albuquerque, NM.  After relocating to Lawton, OK, Sue, at the young age of 46, entered the nursing program at Cameron University and would graduate in 1980.  She started her career as a Registered Nurse at Comanche County Hospital. In 1982, upon Curry's retirement, Sue would realize her lifelong dream of returning to her hometown of Pawnee, OK.  Sue worked a few years for the hospital in Cushing, OK and then joined the Pawnee Hospital as a Floor Nurse giving compassionate loving care to her patients.  She retired as Director of Nurses at the Pawnee Hospital in 1994 to enjoy playing golf, traveling, spending time with Curry and all of their friends and family.  She enjoyed flower gardening, crafting and her trips to the casinos where securing the best slot machine was part of the fun. After Curry's death in 1995, Sue married her daughter's father-in-law Don White Sr. in 1999 in Quitman, Texas and enjoyed retirement living on Lake Fork, Texas.  They would later move to Edmond, Oklahoma in 2005 to be close to their kids and grandkids. Sue was preceded in death by her parents, her husbands, Curry Ellison and Don White Sr. and son David Ellison of Pawnee, OK.  She is survived by her sister Charlotte Maltsberger and husband Jarrett, of Pawnee, OK, son, Burk Ellison and wife Kathy of Houston, TX, daughter, Lisa White and husband Don of Edmond, OK, daughter-in-law Eileen Ellison of Pawnee, OK, grandkids, Stephanie Mahnke and husband Mark (daughter Anna) of San Mateo, CA, LT. Ryan Ellison and wife Traci (children Audrey & David)  of Naples, Italy, LT. Ashley Ellison of Norfolk, VA, Brett Ellison and wife Cathy (son Brady) of Missouri City, TX, Kenzi Ellison of Cypress, TX, Chris White of Edmond, OK, Nic White of Edmond, OK, her nieces Renee, Suan and Lore. Other survivors include Elaine Richter Bouchard and Erin Nielson.