Sue Meade Franzreb

Sue Meade Franzreb, 87, began her next big journey on October 25, 2018, departing for home from Johns Creek, Georgia. She is preceded in death by her husband, John K. Franzreb; her parents, Ralph M. and Bessie Magill Meade; her brother, R. Charles Meade; and her sister, Maratha Meade McGammon. Survivors include her sisters: Judith Preston and Maxine Holbrook; her children: Linda and Eric Duncan; Robert J. Franzreb; Mark and Jan Franzreb; her grandchildren: Erin Duncan Topel and Matt Topel; D'Arcy and Nathan Andrews; Will Franzreb; and Rachel Franzreb; and her great-grandchildren: the "babies," Duncan Andrews and Benji Topel.

Born in Wheat Community, Tennessee, her birth place became part of the new city of Oak Ridge during the Second World War. Her husband, John, came to Oak Ridge from New York as part of the Manhattan Project. They met at work after the war and were married on Valentine's Day 1952, with Sue daring to wear bright red lipstick.

Sue was a "hidden athlete" having excelled at basketball in high school and later as a champion bowler. She was an excellent seamstress, making beautifully tailored ensembles for herself and her daughter, often without a pattern. She knew how to grow and "put up" every type of vegetable and fruit grown in East Tennessee and could identify the majority of the birds on their property by their calls. She loved the deer that roamed their acreage but was not as fond of the wild turkeys.

She taught her grandchildren how to howl at the moon and make mud pies and earthquake cakes. She was always up for a hike with the grandchildren, including stream, river and cave exploration. Unlike a lot of Grandmas, she didn't shy away from toad, frog, salamander and crawdad hunting as part of the adventure. Later she encouraged her great-grandsons to babble about their days and loved "pretend cooking" with them. Always in a "little bit of trouble," Sue loved to giggle and definitely knew a lot more than she disclosed.

She will be missed by her family and her friends at Ashwood Meadows, as well as her special caregivers, Sandy Heard and Oseka Alexander. The family will have a memorial service at a later date. Until then, we are listening for her giggles from heaven.