Karon Sue Maben

Karon Sue Maben, aged 70, passed away Sept. 19, 2018 at her home in Spur after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Sue was born Feb. 3, 1948, in Jacksboro, TX, the daughter of Jeff and Margaret Stubblefield.

Sue graduated from Spear-man High School in 1966. She graduated from West Texas State (now WTAMU) with a bachelor’s degree in education in 1970, and was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. She earned a masters degree in education from Texas Tech University in 1980.

In 1969, Sue married her best friend Benny G. Maben. They made their home on a ranch just outside of Spur, where they raised their children Tye and Vallye. Sue was the definition of devoted wife and mother. She traveled across the U.S. to support her children in rodeo, football, basketball and their many other activities. Usually she had the huge camcorder that you had to carry on your shoulder ready to video them, however when their event came she was too nervous to watch. In her eyes there was nothing they could not do.

Sue began her teaching career at Spur High School in 1976, then moved to elementary four years later. She retired from Spur ISD in 2001 but continued teaching as a substitute until 2015. She was a passionate teacher who was determined to get the best out of her students. One of her former students, Belinda Maye, said it best. “She believed in me. She made me believe in me.” That’s just the kind of teacher she was. She served as a school board member from 2008 to 2014.

In her retirement years Sue and Benny loved to go on cruises. So much so they occasionally forgot to tell their children where they were going! She also loved her monthly outings with some of her retired teacher friends. Those dear friends meant so much to her.

Sue is survived by her husband, Benny Maben of Spur; son Tye and wife Kelly Maben of Spur; daughter Vallye and husband Jason Brooks of Krum, TX; sister Ann and husband Paul Townsend of Big Spring, TX; a cousin who was all but her sister, Alane Malone, of Mesquite, TX; four granddaughters, Hadley Brooks, Kennedy Brooks, Macye Maben and Cheney Brooks. Her nephew Brendle Hancock was all but a son to her. She is survived as well by a number of other relatives and close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jeff and Margaret Stubblefield, and granddaughter Hannah Brooks.

In true teacher fashion, she donated her body to Texas Tech Health Sciences with a hope that they could learn from her cancer something that might benefit others.

A memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Spur on Saturday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. A family visitation will be held at Community Bible Chapel, 209 East Third St., in Spur, on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be sent to:

Sue Maben Memorial Scholarship Fund

Spur Security Bank

120 West Harris Street

Spur, TX 79370