Johnnie Lou Suits

Johnnie Lou Mitchell Suits December 28, 1916 – October 30, 2016 Johnnie Lou Mitchell Suits passed away peacefully October 30, 2016, at the Ridgecrest Retirement and Health Care Community with loved ones by her side. A memorial service will be held in Waco, Texas, at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, November 12, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Melissa Maher will officiate. Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Johnnie Lou was born December 28, 1916, in Clarkson, Texas, on the Mitchell family farm. She was the only child of Julia Evelyn Patton Mitchell Williams and Maurice Van Buren Mitchell. Johnnie Lou was born into a farming family and community, but in October 1918 her father passed away due to the Spanish flu epidemic. Her mother and she moved shortly thereafter to Waco, and Johnnie Lou became a city girl. However, she never lost her love of country life, spending many happy times with her Patton and Mitchell cousins at her grandparents’ farm in Lott. Johnnie Lou loved animals, nature, and children. Johnnie Lou was a Waco girl. She attended Sanger Elementary, West Junior High and graduated from Waco High School in 1934. Her mother owned the Vanity Fair beauty salon in the Amicable building, and Johnnie Lou had fond memories of spending time there. As a teenager, she became interested in dance. She continued dance through her college years, competing in ballroom dance. It was at the Elmer Wheatly dance studio she caught the eye and heart of Tommie Suits. Johnnie Lou and Thomas John “Tommie” Suits, Jr., were married June 21, 1940. They were a couple devoted to each other and celebrated 71 years of marriage shortly before Tommie’s death in 2011. Johnnie Lou graduated from Baylor University in May 1939 with a bachelor degree in elementary education. Her first teaching position was at Prairie Dell in the Salado School District. She and a fellow teacher taught all elementary grades in a one-room school. World War II interrupted Johnnie Lou’s teaching career as she followed her husband to Winter Park, Florida, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. When Tommie was assigned to the Philippines, Johnnie Lou returned to Waco and taught in the La Vega school system. After World War II, Johnnie Lou and Tommie made their home in Waco where she lived until her death. After ten years of marriage, a daughter, Julia Ann, was born in 1950 and a son, Thomas John III, was born in May 1953, twelve days after the tornado of 1953. When her children entered elementary school, she returned to teaching. Johnnie Lou taught first grade at St Albans Episcopal School from 1959-1980. She loved her days at St Albans and would often say “we had the best students, parents and faculty.” Johnnie Lou was a member of Austin Avenue United Methodist Church. She served her church as a Sunday School teacher, Meals on Wheels volunteer, member of the flower delivery ministry and member of the Friendship Sunday School class. She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband. She is survived by children, Julia Ann Suits Maher and husband, Mike, of Pearland, Texas, and Thomas John Suits III and wife, Jane, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; her grandchildren, Rebecca Maher Bentley (Ward), the Rev. Melissa Maher, Emily Maher Harvison (Jason), Dr Michael Maher (Leslie), Justin Suits (April) and Joelle Suits; and great grandchildren, Jackson Harvison, Olivia Harvison, and Ivy Maher. The family deeply appreciates the love of caregivers Fern Lee and Glenna Flowers, who made it possible for Johnnie Lou to live with love and dignity. We also thank the entire staff of the Assisted Living of Ridgecrest Retirement Center, and Providence Hospice, especially Gay Fox. We give thanks for faithful family and friends. If desired, memorial donations may be made to Austin Avenue United Methodist Church, 1300 Austin Avenue, Waco, TX 76701; Providence Hospice, 6700 Sanger Avenue, Waco, TX 76710; or Methodist Children’s Home of Waco, 1111 Herring Avenue, Waco, TX 76708. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com. “So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day…. for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16, 18