Elsie Suddeth

Elsie Miller Suddeth, 92, of St. Augustine, Fla., passed away at her home to her eternal resting place following a short illness Saturday, July 21, 2012, surrounded by her loving family.

She was born Oct. 31, 1919, in Tamms, Ill., to Roy and Effie Miller.

She moved to Washington, D.C., during World War II to work with the FBI under J. Edgar Hoover. While in D.C., she met and fell in love with a young GI, her first husband, William Franklin Suddeth Sr. They were married June 4, 1944, in St. Augustine.

Elsie resided in St. Augustine the past 68 years. She worked many years as a bank auditor for Exchange Bank of St. Augustine, before completing her master's degree at the University of Jacksonville.

After graduation she started a new career as an elementary teacher, teaching at both Hastings Elementary and W.D. Hartley Elementary schools. She retired from the St. Johns County school system in 1989.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Effie Miller; first husband, William Franklin Suddeth Sr.; second husband, Arthur Munson; two sons, William Franklin Suddeth Jr. and Thomas Franklin Suddeth; a brother, Clifford Miller; sisters, Lorene Mcallister and Grace Duff; and a granddaughter, Jennifer Suddeth.

Survivors include a son, Robert Franklin "Bobby" Suddeth and wife Judy of St. Augustine; a daughter, Deborah S. Manley and husband Richard of Reston, Va.; a daughter-in-law, Diane Suddeth of Houston; two brothers, Gene and Curtis Miller of Tamms; two sisters, Francis Reid of Jackson, Lois Farris of Cape Girardeau; 11 grandchildren, Kellie Moore, Steven Suddeth, Nancy Suddeth-Repp, Kristen Manley, Laura Manley, William Suddeth, Matthew Suddeth, Paul Suddeth, Thomas F. Suddeth Jr., Hollie Coble, Susan Suddeth; 13 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at St. Johns Funeral Home in St. Augustine.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Moore officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

Flowers are gratefully accepted or donations in Elsie's memory may be made to Community Hospice of N.E. Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257.

Announcement courtesy of Crain Funeral Home in Tamms.