Dear friends,

We have learned of the passing on Sunday, July 14, of Sue Smith of Phoenix. Sue was a longtime reader of the Urantia Book and hosted a study group in Honolulu before returning to Arizona in the early 1980s, where she hosted a group for many years. When Grand Canyon Society for Readers of the Urantia Book (its original name) was installed in 1990, Sue was its first president.

In recent years Sue lost the ability to walk and was largely confined to a wheelchair. But this did not stop her from attending the study group hosted by Beth and Bruce Wenger, where she would listen to what was being read and would contribute to the discussions. Her mind remained sharp, and she retained her sense of humor. In recent times we have witnessed her and her hand puppet, Ted, performing some of the corniest jokes anyone has ever heard. If she failed to elicit a few groans, she did not feel she was a success.

Sue always made it clear she was a month older than the Queen. When I began attending a study group in 1978, I became acquainted with her mother, Margaret Hawkins, years before I ever met Sue (although it was the daughter who introduced her mother to the book). Both were from North Carolina.

Sue leaves behind two sons, Robert and Phillip, both familiar with the UB. We know she is looking forward to seeing again her husband, Bob, on the mansion worlds.

In fellowship, Larry Bowman, Secretary, Grand Canyon Urantia Book Society