SUE F. BROWNLEE, EDUCATOR, CHARITABLE VOLUNTEER

Johnston City- Sue F. Brownlee, a long time resident of the city of St. Louis, passed away at 11:03 p.m. Friday, May 27, 2011, of complications from inoperable pancreatic cancer after a courageous battle of almost two years. She was born Sue Francisco at the Herrin, Illinois hospital on February 13, 1953 and grew up in Johnston City, Illinois. She attended Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where she obtained her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Health Education, studying under the renowned teacher Bob Russell. Her 1978 Master's thesis, "The Barefoot Doctors: A Study of Improvements in Health Care in the People's Republic of China under Mao Tse-tung", won wide acclaim.

She married her husband Bob, a partner in the St. Louis law firm Thompson Coburn LLC, in 1978 and moved to St. Louis. After a brief period of public school teaching she began a career in private sector health education. She worked for 17 years in what is now the BJC system, first at Missouri Baptist and then at BJC after their combination. Although recently retired for seven years she remained active in volunteer training for healthcare providers including physicians, and held three American Red Cross certifications in CPR and related fields.

She was active in charitable causes and a supporter of Forest Park Forever, Friends of the St. Louis Zoo and numerous other local organizations. In 2008 she was the Silent Auction Chair of the annual Justice for All Ball held to benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri. The next year she was the Volunteer Chair of the event. In February of this year she was the Honorary Chair of the 2011 Ball.

She was preceded in death by her Father, Henry Francisco, and her Uncle Albert Francisco for whom she cared lovingly for several years. She is survived by Bob, her mother Mary Francisco, her sisters Vanessa and Beth and her brother Archie, Vanessa's husband Jeff Maxie and Archie's wife Dee, her nephew Brad, her nieces, Brooke, Stephanie, and Laura as well their spouses and children. She also is survived by her buddies Sam and Abe the cats and her beloved rescue Derby the dog.

Her funeral will be at the Murman & Wilson Funeral Home in Johnston City, Illinois this coming Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Larry Stevens officiating. Interment will be thereafter in the Lakeview Cemetery in Johnston City. Visitation will be on Tuesday evening, May 31 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial services in Sue's honor will be scheduled at a later date in Forest Park in St. Louis, and in the Marshall County Subdivision at Kentucky Lake where Sue and Bob enjoyed over twenty recreational seasons at their lakeside property.

The family wants to express special thanks to oncologist Dr. Joel Picus, his head nurse Ms. Pat Dulle and all of the caregivers at the Siteman Cancer Center and Barnes Jewish Hospital who worked so hard and successfully to give her a good quality of life during her battle with cancer.

The family requests that anyone wishing to make a memorial contribution do so to the Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis for the benefit of pancreatic cancer research, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri or a charity of their choice.