CHANUTE — LaVerna Sue Weitzel, 67, of Chanute went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Rogers, Arkansas, with her loving husband and their daughter at her side.
Sue, as everyone knew her, was born Feb. 1, 1957, to Carolyn Bockover of Chanute. Carolyn later met and married Leonard Cox of the Chanute area. Sue was adopted by Leonard, becoming LaVerna Sue Cox.
She attended Chanute schools through high school. In July 1973, she met Richard Weitzel, formerly of Savonburg/ Stark communities and just returning from the U.S. Army. After a few months of courtship, they were married on April 25, 1974, at the First Christian Church in Chanute. From this union came one child, a daughter, Valerie Hope Weitzel.
Over the years, Sue worked as an assembler and later production manager at Chanute businesses, Kustom Electronics, P.C. Boards and Everbrite Electronics. Following this, she also worked at Spirit and Orizon until her retirement in February 2022.
During her younger years, she participated in women’s slowpitch softball in Chanute. She also enjoyed bowling in the women’s bowling leagues of Chanute and in the mixed leagues with her husband. Having grown up in a family of card players, she learned the art well and was not to be taken lightly in poker.
After retirement, Sue began to enjoy shooting pool, the occasional trips to the casinos and more frequent trips to Arkansas to see their two prized and deeply loved grandchildren, Myiah, 12, and Grayson, 10. They are the children of Mark and Valerie Holman of Bentonville, Arkansas.
Sue was the oldest of five children, including Tim Cox (wife, Liz) of Iola; sisters, Debbie Wiles (husband, Gary), and Brenda Cox, both of Chanute, and Leona Abbot (husband, Dennis) of Neodesha.
Sue was a 42-year member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 170 in Chanute. Over the years she had many happy times with her Legion family and friends, and with her husband of 50 years, danced away several Saturday nights. Sue’s laugh and her smile were infectious. She was adored by all who knew her and will be dearly missed.
The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 31, at Countryside Funeral Home in Chanute. A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1, at the funeral home with a private family inurnment at a later date. The family suggests memorials in Sue’s name to her medical and final expenses, and these can be left with Countryside Funeral Home or paid to Venmo account @Valerie-Holman-5.
