Susan Jane Lapierre Venable

Susan Jane LaPierre Venable, 87, of Jackson, passed away, Sunday, September 17, 2017, at the Jackson Manor Nursing Home in Jackson.

She was born March 7, 1930, daughter of Guild Mazuret and Julia Lilly Mueller LaPierre in Cape Girardeau.

Susan and Gerald Fenton "Jerry" Venable were married May 30, 1952 at MacMurray College in Jacksonville, Illinois.

Susan was a graduate of Jackson High School in May 1948 and was salutatorian of her class. She graduated from MacMurray College in May 1952 with a B.S. degree in Music, majoring in Public School Music and Piano.

She was the band director for the Woodland R-4 School District, known at that time as Lutesville High School. She taught Band, Boys Chorus, Girls Chorus, Fundamentals in Music, Elementary Music, directed the Christmas programs, and was the cosponsor of the freshman class. She taught at the school from 1952-1955.

After starting a family in the spring of 1955, she taught private piano lessons in her home, at one point having up to 28 students a week. Throughout her career she hosted piano recitals featuring her students, entering many of them in the National Federation of Music Clubs Junior Festival with several of them winning gold cups. Susan was an active member of the Southeast Missouri Teachers Association, Missouri Music Teachers Association, Music Teachers National Association, and Community Concert. Mrs. Venable taught from 1955-2011, 56 years. In her last few years of teaching piano, she taught a second generation of students, children of her former students.

Susan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson and served as choir director for twenty years. She was a former Sunday School teacher, an Elder on the Session, and had served as treasurer. She was awarded the Presbyterian Women Lifetime Membership Honor and was a member of many of the women's church circles. She was an active member of the PEO Chapter DJ of Jackson, for over 60 years. She also served on numerous committees and was president from 1999-2001.

Loving survivors include five children, Daryl Fenton Venable of Indianapolis, In; Eric Guild (Martha) Venable of Jackson; Stuart Wayne (Bobbie) Venable of Springfield, Mo; Linda Susan (Stephen VanAmburg) Venable, of Jackson; Steven Mark (Cheryl) Venable, Marietta, GA; six grandchildren, Marisa Denise (Chris) Meyer, Jessica Sue (Darin) Teague, Isaac Guild (Amber) Venable, Jeb Stuart (Laura) Venable, Major Sherman Fenton (Allison) Venable, and Nathan Christian Venable; three great grandchildren, Tucker Wayne Teague, Carter Raymond Teague, and Scout Avabelle Venable; and a sister, Margaret Wilkening of East Lansing, MI.

In addition to her husband "Jerry" of over 64 years, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother in law, Donald Wilkening.

Visitation will be Thursday, September 21, 2017, from 5-8pm at the McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson and Friday after 9am at the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson.

A funeral service will be Friday, September 22, 2017, at 10:00 am at the church with Rev. Grant Gillard officiating.

Interment will follow in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Jackson or to the Julia LaPierre and Susan Venable Memorial Scholarship Fund.