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Sue Gorence, 91 of Midland, Texas passed away Monday, September 10, 2018. The family will accept guests from 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. on Friday, September 14, 2018 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home with a reception following from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. at The Branch at NPW. Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Resthaven Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sue's memory may be made in support of music programs at Grace Presbyterian Church, 2801 N. Garfield Street, Midland, TX 79705.
Elizabeth "Sue" Gorence was born on October 10, 1926 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma to Kline and Essie (Charles) Gilmore. She graduated from Bartlesville's College High and went straight to work in the land department at Phillips Petroleum Company where she met her husband, Ed Gorence who also worked there as a Landman. They were married on April 17, 1948 and were married 64 years before Eddie passed in 2012.
Sue and Eddie moved to Midland in 1960 via a transfer with Phillips and despite the arid and treeless environment, Sue fell in love with living in Midland. Sue was a "go-getter" - never sitting still but always busy with her many hobbies, friends, church, clubs and service organizations. They were charter members of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and upon moving to Midland, became members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, later becoming Trinity Presbyterian, where they were both active, servant members with Sue singing in the choir for decades and serving as a Deacon. We are grateful to Grace Presbyterian Church for taking Sue into their fold and giving her a church home in recent years.
Although she was humble regarding her talents, Sue had many. She was a fabulous cook and loved to entertain and especially loved having her children and grandchildren home for the holidays. She was an avid gardener and never gave up trying to create an "English garden" in West Texas. Sue could do almost anything with her hands - sewing and other needle arts - and she loved collecting early American antiques and antique furniture - she refinished several pieces herself. She was a devoted follower of politics and always kept on top of current news. Her second love, behind her husband Eddie, was baseball player Mickey Mantle, also a native of northeastern Oklahoma whose career she followed from his days in the minors.
However, her greatest passion was tracing her genealogy which she worked on for decades without the use of today's technology. She was proud to discover that her ancestors were some of the earliest American settlers in both Jamestown and the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She was an active member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Lt. William Brewer Chapter here in Midland.
She is survived by her three children, Ken Gorence of Austin, Texas, Gary Gorence of Pecos, New Mexico and Janet Gorence Davas of Asheville, North Carolina and her three grandchildren, Erin Gorence and her husband Scott Morgan of Fallbrook, California, Amanda Gorence of Brooklyn, New York and Elizabeth Davas of Houston, Texas.
Sue was a woman of great strength and devotion. Devotion to God and her church, her family and friends and to service. She lived her life in a positive light, without judgement and with a wonderful sense of humor even in death. Her beautiful spirit will be missed by all.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences may be made at www.npwelch.com.
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