Sue Mathews Parsley of Sheridan, Arkansas, was born March 7, 1934, in Sheridan, the daughter of the late Robert G. and Pearl Veazey Mathews. A 1952 graduate of Sheridan High School, Sue maintained close friendships with many of her classmates and fellow SHS alumni throughout her life.

Sue didn’t “kinda” do anything. If she was involved, she poured her whole heart into it, and whatever she undertook was done without shortcuts and to her own exacting standards. She was a proud, faithful, and active member of First Baptist Church of Sheridan for 80 years. Having been baptized in Jenkins Ferry near Sheridan at a young age, Sue’s love for serving God was evident not only through her personal testimony but also through her devotion to her church and the many ministries in which she served.

Sue spent her entire professional career as a payroll accountant and, in her spare time, was an avid reader. In addition to her dedication to her church, she was actively involved in her community as a member of P.E.O. and served for many years as an election commissioner.

Sue was full of life, and she was loud! Not an obnoxious loud, mind you, but the proud Southern mama, grandmother, and Christian lady kind of loud. You knew when Sue entered a room, and you could be certain she wouldn’t leave until she had spoken to everyone there. She was an exceptional candy and dessert maker, although her other meals often started in her kitchen and ended at a local restaurant.

The order of love and priorities in Sue’s life was simple: her Jesus, her family, and her Razorbacks. Jesus always held the top position, but her family occasionally worried that the bottom two might switch places, depending on how the season was going! Sue was more than just a Razorback fan. She was a walking encyclopedia of Razorback trivia and was always ready to dispense equal amounts of sports knowledge and advice to anyone willing to listen.

All kidding aside, Sue cherished her family. She was immensely proud of each of them and was forever grateful to God for the blessing of being their matriarch. Her love for her family, her unwavering faith, and her larger-than-life personality were among the many qualities that made Sue so special to those who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Parsley passed away Friday, September 18, 2026, at Arbor Oaks Assisted Living in Malvern, at the age of 92. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Victor “Vic” Parsley; brothers, Bob Mathews, David Mathews, and Jim Mathews; and sisters, Kay Powell and Dorothy "Dot" Puckett.

Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Bob and Carole Parsley of Washington State, and Ron and Marsha Parsley of Malvern; grandsons, Robert Parsley, Timothy Parsley (Crissa), Kel Parsley, and Mark Parsley (Leah); and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous other extended family members and friends.

To allow time for her out-of-state family members to arrive, funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, October 1, 2026, at First Baptist Church in Sheridan, with burial to follow in Lost Creek Cemetery. Visitation will be held at the church on the same day, from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M., prior to the service.