A Celebration of Life service will be held for Mary Sue Young, age 83 of Ruston, Louisiana at 2:00 PM, Saturday, March 2, 2024 at Lifechurch.LA in Ruston, Louisiana. A private burial will be held prior to the memorial service at Corinth Cemetery in Dubach, Louisiana. Sue was born on June 30, 1940, in Delhi, Louisiana, to Ernest and Mary Elva Young and went home to be with Jesus on February 14, 2024 in Ruston, Louisiana.

Sue gave her heart to the Lord at Calhoun Assembly of God Church when she was a young girl. Soon after graduating from Calhoun High School, she moved to San Francisco, California, where she worked as a telephone operator and later at a hospital for the mentally challenged in Sonoma, California. A few years later, she returned to Louisiana, was married, and in the next 8 years, became the mother of four children.

Sue returned to school in her 40's after being a stay-at-home mother for years to obtain her degree in nursing at Louisiana Tech University. She started her nursing career at Lincoln General Hospital (now North Louisiana Medical Center) in Ruston. Before long, she excelled in her craft and was promoted to head nurse. Sue's expertise allowed her to train many upcoming nurses. She also worked in the mental health and home health fields during her career.

In 1991, she moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to attend Rhema Bible Training Center. While studying, she also worked at Cancer Treatment Centers of America., She specialized in Missions at Rhema and went on a mission trip to Peru. It was soon obvious to her that God had a plan for her in other nations.

In 1993, after graduating from Rhema, she moved back to Ruston, Louisiana and again worked as a nurse as she prepared herself for the mission field. Sue went on a mission trip to Mexico in the mid 90's and shortly after moved to South Texas to serve with Missionaries: Doc and Pat Louviere, her specialty: medical missions. She told stories of the desperate measures she found herself in so she could help hurting people. On many occasions, she would hide medical supplies in her little car and transport them over the border into Mexico. She worked with a Mexican doctor to hold medical clinics and also treated many children in orphanages in Mexico. She was called upon to perform medical procedures performed only by doctors here in the USA. She had been trained well and was up for the task. After serving several years, Sue became ill with typhoid fever. She then had no other choice but to move back to Ruston to recover.

Sue was ready to go again as soon as she was able. Her next assignment was in Managua, Nicaragua. During her time there, Sue oversaw a medical clinic for a school with over 200 children. She also was involved with Billy Graham's ministry: Samaritan's Purse. The nation of Nicaragua was forever planted in her heart and she often spoke fondly of her time there, even up to the months before her death. She often said the flowers in Nicaragua were some of the most beautiful she had seen and that huge poinsettias would grow wild. Sue returned to Ruston after serving in Nicaragua for several years.

Sue volunteered in her church in many capacities, including as a Sunday School teacher during her later years. She always loved and supported many different missions, missionaries, and non-profit organizations. Sue also loved growing flowers, feeding her many hummingbirds, sewing, and reading books.

Sue is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Elva Young; son, John C. Stephenson; three brothers: Lawrence Young, Bob (Wilma) Young, and David (Betty) Young; three sisters: Margie Davis, Lynn Davis, and Mattie Free; a special sister-in-law and friend, Esther Ward; and former husband, John W. Stephenson. She is survived by daughters Sherrie Stewart (David) and Kelli Stephenson of Ruston and Pattie (Titus) Kasomo of Tanzania, Africa; grandchildren William Stewart and Stephen Stewart of Ruston, Candice (Adam) MacDaniels of Bossier City, John (Jada) Stephenson, Jr. of Monroe, and Noah Kasomo of Tanzania, Africa; great grandchildren Zoe, Ellie, Jackson, and Gara; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lifechurch.LA Missions: Metro World Child India and Metro World Child Tanzania.