Carla Sue Park

Carla Sue Richardson Park

Her parents called her Sue but she loved the name Carla. That’s why she married a man with the name Carl and named her daughter Carla Rene.

Carla Sue Richardson Park was born on July 26th, 1938, but she must have came in screaming and gave the doctor the shakes. He wrote the 25th on the birth certificate, and she didn’t find out until she applied for a passport. Nowadays, that could put her on the “No Fly” list!

Sue was on the fast track going through the Madisonville school system and was a twirler in the band. She went to Baylor University for a short stint where she signed up late and had to take Russian. That was the one thing she failed at except for the occasional burnt cake or cookies; she wasn’t perfect! Sue then changed her game plan and went to Sam Houston State University where she majored in Child Education/Home Economics and minored in history.

Sue married (Carl) Tony Park, got pregnant, and got her master’s degree. They moved to Channelview where she taught elementary school for a short time. Then she got her dream job as a home economics teacher in Dayton. There was some discussion over having a pregnant home economics teacher. Instead of having a plastic baby like they do now, her kids were able to practice with a real one – the one she named Carla!

After having Carla with the help of Patsie Arnold, Sue went back to Sam Houston for her school counseling certification, and she stayed with Dayton ISD for 30 years until she retired. She not only was a home economics teacher there, but she was also the school suspension counselor, an American and Texas History teacher, and a junior high school counselor. She was acknowledged for her accomplishments on the Dayton ISD’s “Wall of Fame.”

Sue was involved with several groups including the Friends of the Library, the Old School Museum, the Dayton Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma’s Mu Iota chapter, and the Daughters of the America Revolution. She was also a Sunday school teacher at the First Baptist Church where she also worked in the children’s nursery.

Having several interests, Sue loved to travel including several two week family vacations, educational trips with her students to New York City and England, and took Kathy Fry to numerous Snoopy conventions. A free Macy’s Snoopy plush toy for Carla inspired Sue’s vast Snoopy collection. Tony has warned Carla not to sell any of her Snoopy ornaments in any type of garage sale! Sue loved to entertain, and she combined that with Bridge and had many playing card parties. She even bought a red hat to go out with her Red Hat Society friends!

She always cooked food to store in the freezer to give away when someone died, was ill, or was celebrating a birthday. The family apologizes if any of the food was freezer burnt when received! Several students have told stories of how she helped them in school, and she kept it helping even after she retired.

Sue was a good woman. She may have kept her teacher personality intact even outside of the classroom, but she always meant well.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy and father, E.M Bub Richardson.

She is survived by her husband, Carl "Tony" Park, daughter, Carla Edwards and son in law Joey, brothers Emmett Richardson and wife Beth, Preston Richardson and wife Susan.

Nieces and nephews are Gay and Harvey Bryson, Jan and Greg Lacombe, John Richardson, Jill and Lou Preston, Sam and Tiffany Richardson, Robin Richardson and Sarah Richardson.

The family will receive friends from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 23, 2023 at Pace-Stancil Funeral Home with a service to follow at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Howie Howeth officiating. A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. that same day at Park Cemetery in Madisonville, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made the Dayton Historical Society or Friends of the Library. 

To view her online obituary, or post a tribute to her family, go to www.pacestancil.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pace-Stancil Funeral Home, 1304 N. Cleveland, Dayton, Texas 77535, 936-258-5300.