Sue Bandy

Sue Bandy, age 83, passed away October 11, 2023, shortly before midnight.  Sue is survived by her children, Bruce Jackson Bandy; daughter-in-law, Judy; grandson, Christopher; great-granddaughter, Caitlin; granddaughter, Melinda; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Caleb, Joshua, Whitley, and Scarlet; great-great granddaughter, Eliza; daughter, Winifred Bandy Weber; son-in-law, Daniel Weber; and grandchildren Jackson and Genevieve.

Sue is predeceased by her parents, O.L. and Nettie Jackson; her brothers, Morris, Ben, Owen, and Ralph Jackson; her nephews, David and Russell Bandy and her niece, Cathy Holloway.

A descendant of Texas pioneers, Sue expressed her love of heritage through her calling as a fine artist.  Sue followed her paintbrush to towns, lakes, mountains, deserts, and pastures to share the beauty of Texas in still life, landscape, and portrait.  According to Sue: “Everywhere I look, in every face, under every sky, I see a painting.  I can’t imagine a more blessed life”.

Small of stature, strong in Christian faith and fierce of heart, Sue was the example of applying hard work to natural talent, never tiring of starting over when she was not “happy” with an art piece – to the dismay of her observers. 

Sue earned a Bachelor of Science with a minor in Fine Art from Texas Eastern University in Tyler. Sue worked in the Criminal Justice System and taught Art in public school while she grew as an artist.  Some of Sue’s major works have been character studies, earning a Best of Show in “The Palette of Roses” in Tyler and a year-long touring award from the Texas Fine Art Association in Longview.  Her landscapes in oil and acrylic have received a number of awards.  Dallas Life Magazine, of the Dallas Morning News, featured her polychromatic sculptures in a series of artworks made of paper.  Whatever the medium, Sue worked with a limited palette, preferring the infinite color range that can be achieved when mixing one’s own paint. 

Sue loved music and had a fondness for playing hymns and Irish tunes on the piano.  Her favorite poem was When Earth’s Last Picture is Painted, by Rudyard Kipling.  In lieu of sending flowers, Sue’s family asks that you contemplate a flower with an artist’s eye.

Sue’s family offers deep thanks for care and friendship to Susie Keeney, Nurse Lori, Aide JoAnn, the doctors, nurses, staff, neighbors, (fellow inmates), and tablemates of the Coryell Health System, Neely and the community of Gatesville, Texas.