Sue Blevins, age 80, died with great courage and determination after enduring years of complex illness and health obstacles. A recent event ultimately led to pneumonia, from which, in her weakened state, she was unable to return. We want to acknowledge her tremendous courage and determination: she did it on her terms right until the last moment. We were all there, her closest family members, by her side, to see her off on her journey to the next phase.She was born on August 15, 1937, in Lubbock, Texas, to Letitia Frances Ratliff Blevins and William Munroe Blevins. She is survived by her daughters Sandra MacFadden Furlong, Jessica Ann Furlong, Frances Georgianna Furlong Lesniak and Kimberly Sue Furlong; her grandchildren George Walter Lesniak, Alice Sue Lesniak, and Milo W Jones Jelinski, her nephews Richard Blevins Lynn and William Matthew Lynn, and her sons in law Gilbert B Garcia Jr., Chuck Lesniak, and Barry Joseph Jelinski II. She was pre-deceased by her sister Frances Ann Blevins Whitlock and her brother Jones Louis Blevins.She graduated from St. Mary's Hall in San Antonio, Texas in 1955. Sue received a Master of Fine Arts Degree from The University of Texas at Austin in 1990. Before that, she attended Cornell University from 1955-57, and The University of Texas at Austin from 1957-1960, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 1960.She was an intense artist with uncanny talent and commitment to her vision, with an impressive and important career, not just as a woman, but also as a Texas artist. Her one person show at Women & Their Work in 1993 was one of a number of highlights during her career. She donated a piece of labored work to every auction that invited her to do so, and we will never forget those exciting auction nights we spent as a family, she with all her daughters, immersed in art. Her stunning youthful beauty got her mistaken for another sister for many decades, and we have spent our lives like a gang of five. Words are not sufficient to describe our closeness. We are bereft, but so relieved that her suffering has ended, and that we were all there with her when she breathed her last, and so grateful that we could help usher her into her future.The family will accept guests from 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m., Monday, April 2, 2018 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm. on Monday, April 2, 2018 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church with interment to follow at Fairview Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.,
