Sue McMikle

CHARLESTON, Mo. — Sue Allen McMikle, 92, of Charleston died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016, at her home.

She was born Aug. 4, 1924, in Bardwell, Kentucky, to the late Henry and Rasalee Haltermann Allen.

She moved to Sikeston, Missouri, in 1942, where she was employed as a secretary for the International Shoe Co. In 1951, she and her husband, Elgin McMikle, completed the building of McMikle Funeral Home in East Prairie, Missouri, and then, in 1954, expanded their funeral business to Charleston. In addition to the operation of two funeral homes and an ambulance service, they enhanced the East Prairie facility with the addition of McMikle Flower Shop. When their move to Charleston was complete, Sue expanded the flower shop by incorporating their former living quarters in the East Prairie facility to feature a complete home showroom for gifts and decorative accessory items. She operated the flower and gift shop until 1974. In 1990, the decision was made to consolidate their funeral business to the Charleston location, and in 1992, Elgin and Sue donated the former East Prairie facility to the Missouri Baptist Children’s Home. Elgin and Sue were honored as Charleston’s Business of the Year in 2000.

She retired her position as a licensed funeral director in 2007, but never lost her love for assisting in arranging funeral services. As a former member of the National, the Missouri, and the Southeast Missouri Funeral Directors associations, she was known for her high standard of integrity and dedication to her profession.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Charleston, where she had served as a former director for the young adults Sunday-school department and was a former member of the Charleston Junior Study Club.

On March 5, 1949, in Piggott, Arkansas, she married Elgin McMikle, who preceded her in death Jan. 26, 2014.

Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Mary Katherine and Bill Branum of Charleston; her grandchildren, Joshua Adam McMikle and Craig Thurman of St. Louis, Matthew Elgin and Kimberly Branum of Charleston, Blake Allen Branum of Memphis, Tennessee, Nelson Andrew and Nicki McMikle of East Prairie and Jennie-Claire McMikle of Hurst, Illinois; two great-granddaughters, Brooklyn Shae Irby and Aubreigh Nicole McMikle, both of East Prairie; also several nieces and nephews.

One son, John Allen McMikle; two brothers, Milton Allen and J.W. Allen; and one sister, Lillian Case, preceded her in death.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church in Charleston.

The funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with her grandson, Matthew Branum of Charleston, and the Rev. George Nite, pastor of First Baptist Church in Charleston, officiating. Interment will be in IOOF Cemetery under the direction of McMikle Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Josh McMikle, Matthew Branum, Blake Branum, Nelson McMikle, Clinton Graham and Clayton Key.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 442, Charleston, MO 63834, or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38101.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.