NORTH ADMS, Mass. Suzan (Sue) Washburn Francis, of Cypress, Texas, passed away peacefully on May 11, 2026.

Sue was born in North Adams, Massachusetts on February 9, 1941, to Robert Rhodes Washburn and Anne Colby Washburn. A devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great- grandmother, Sue will be missed by her family and friends.

Sue spent her childhood in North Adams (Blackinton), Massachusetts. She attended Drury High School and had many fond memories, including being a varsity cheerleader for the fighting Blue Devils and meeting her future husband Richard (Dick) Elgar Francis.

Dick’s work with Esso/Exxon took the family from Vermont to Massachusetts and to New Jersey/NYC. In 1971, they moved to Houston. They landed in Kingwood, Texas in 1973, which became the family’s main home base – later living in Springdale, Arkansas and Georgetown, Texas. Following Dick’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, they moved to Cypress, Texas to be closer to family.

Sue obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of Houston, and two master’s degrees in education administration and counseling from Stephen F. Austin State University.

While living in Kingwood, Sue taught English at Humble Middle School and Humble High School and was a counselor at Kingwood High School. In addition to teaching, she was the sponsor of Kingwood’s Student Council where she became great friends with fellow sponsors from across the state. Sue ended her career as a counselor at Kingwood High School.

Sue was preceded in death by her loving husband of 60 years, Dick and her parents, Bob and Anne Washburn. She is survived by her sisters Roberta (Bobbie) Doore and Patricia (Patsy) Mancivalano; children Debbie Story (Ken), Jane McMillian (Stan) and Richard (Dick) Francis, Jr. (Leslie); grandchildren Chelsea Woerly (Benji), Jake Story (Danielle), Richard Francis, III (Kenner), Jordan Francis (Lainey), Jennifer Grant (Harrison) and Matthew McMillian (Allison);
and great-grandchildren Emma and Kenny Story, Wright, Wake and Mary Kenner Francis, Anna and Curtis Francis and Francis Grant, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Sue enjoyed traveling, crocheting, reading, and watching the Houston Astros, Texas Longhorns and University of Houston Cougars. One of her favorite pastimes was bird watching from her deck and she shared her love of birds, especially cedar waxwings, with her grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 6 at 1:00 pm at the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 2929 Woodland Hills Drive, Kingwood, Texas 77339.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you contribute to the Alzheimer’s Association in honor of Dick Francis, whom Sue missed dearly and was in her thoughts daily or the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church.