Martha Sue "Susie" Osteen left her earthly home August 18, 2023.  She was fondly known by her siblings as "Red,” being the redhead of the family.

Susie began working right out of high school in 1964 at Taylor Instruments (later Welch Allyn) in Arden.  Later putting herself through college, she spent most of her career at that facility in the Human Resources department, ultimately as the HR Manager for the last several years before her retirement.  Having no children of her own, she "adopted" her nieces and nephews, each in a different way. Always their biggest supporter - whether she was trapsing across the country with them out west, shopping for pottery or supporting their small businesses - they knew Susie would be there for it all.  When they were young, she could be relied upon to provide the occasional day out with her and Grandma Effie, which she made a fun day for all ages.  To some of her grand-nieces and grand-nephews, she was something of a bonus grandparent.  Susie loved the beach, and shared trips to her condo at Seabrook Island with many in the family.  And she always helped on her brother’s farm whenever she was needed, being the default hay-truck driver for many years.  She was confident, outspoken, and practical.  And she dearly loved all of her many dogs over the years, whether Doberman or Chihuahua, Basset Hound or mutt.

Susie was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Estelle Osteen, sisters Sylvene Spickerman and Greta Allen, brothers-in-law Gene Holden, Bill Spickerman and Mac Allen, and nieces Lynn Wilson and Gloria Crawford.  She is survived by her brother Mitchell Osteen (Lucy), sister Sybil Jean Watkins (Jim), and brother Carl Osteen (Wilma), eight nieces and nephews and their spouses and families, and two nephews-in-law. 

A memorial service will be held at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 3582 Mt. Olivet Rd., Zirconia, NC, at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 26, 2023, the Reverend Stephen Newman officiating. The family will receive friends at the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her honor to Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or the Blue Ridge Humane Society of Hendersonville.