Sue M. Tchoryk

Sue Madeline Tchoryk, 93, of Houston, TX (formerly East Moline, IL), died on Wednesday, November 15, 2023, in Katy, TX. Services will be held on December 15, 2023 at 11:00 am at Christ United Methodist Church, East Moline, IL. Burial is in the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, Moline, IL. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the church, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, or a favorite charity. Sue was born August 9, 1930 in Peoria, Illinois, daughter of John and Nellie Coney. She married John Tchoryk in 1962. Sue was a devoted wife to John and the two spent just shy of 40 years together, raising a family in East Moline, IL. As a loving mother to her three children and grandmother to her two grandchildren and two great grandchildren, Sue worked tirelessly to care for her family and was the epitome of both strength and femininity. As a child born during the Great Depression, there was a drive in her that was fueled on by tremendous inner fortitude. This trait was obvious in just about everything she accomplished in her life. While she focused on raising her children for much of her adult life, she bucked traditional convention and decided to start a real estate career in her 50s. She worked for Doyle Nelson & Co., a real estate agency based in Moline, IL, where she excelled at helping her clients. Sue was a highly compassionate person and she thrived on helping others. Her love for children was deep, extending well beyond her own family. She was a longtime member of King’s Daughters, a philanthropic organization dedicated to child welfare. She enjoyed assisting at the charity’s thrift store in Moline, IL where she was always willing to lend a hand. She was also a dedicated supporter of St. Jude’s Hospital and many other charitable organizations, consistently donating to help improve the health and welfare of others including veterans. A warm personality that quickly put others at ease was one of Sue’s most inspiring qualities. She was also a wonderful role model for all domestic matters. From cooking and gardening to sewing and decorating, she honed her skills and became proficient at just about anything she put her mind to. She developed a true knack for gardening and grew the most delicious tomatoes every summer. Her crops became so bountiful, she learned how to make salsa to keep any from going to waste. Like just about anything she cooked, it was delicious. In midlife, Sue became an impressive seamstress and was even featured in the Quad City Times, the local newspaper where the family lived. When she wasn’t making her own stylish outfits, she was out shopping for the latest trends, a well-honed skill she passed along to her daughters. Her favorite time of year was the holidays and she really knew how to bring on the cheer. From hundreds of twinkling lights to beautiful decorations to her delicious pecan tassies (cookies), her special touch made everything better and brighter. In her 70s, Sue moved south to the Houston area after John’s passing. Her new passion project became an elegant home she had built in Katy, TX. As with their home in Illinois, her incredible decorating skills were on full display, inside and out. Sue was also an avid golfer and competed in several ladies tournaments over the years. She shared a true love for the sport with John. They often played together with friends and enjoyed trying new courses together on vacations. Even though an achy knee kept her off the course in her senior years, she tuned in every weekend to watch the PGA tournaments and keep track of her favorite pros. Her love for life in general was likely a result of a major health setback she experienced in her youth. She was diagnosed with rheumatoid fever and developed a hole in her heart which she overcame with plenty of prayers and bed rest. This incident is likely a contributing factor to the strength, courage, and resilience she demonstrated up until her passing. From an early age on, angels were all around Sue. As an adult, she literally surrounded herself with angels, in the form of figurines and images, in just about every room in her home. These angels brought her peace and comfort, just like the actual angels who were forever by her side on a daily basis. They certainly did an excellent job of keeping her safe and sound during her 93 years. Now, she’s no doubt enjoying her new role of being an angel to all those who loved her. Surviving are her daughters, Becky Hunter and husband, Steve Hunter, Vandalia, MO, and LeAnn Tchoryk, Houston, TX; granddaughter, Shannon (Williams) Gutheil and husband, Chris Gutheil; grandson, Dylan Hunter; and great grandchildren, Mya and Erizon Gutheil; and numerous nieces and nephews. Sue was preceded in death by her husband, John, son, Greg Williams, brother, Ike Coney, and sisters, Nancy (Coney) Ehrett and Peggy (Coney) Burch.

Sue M. Tchoryk

August 9, 1930 - November 15, 2023