Sue Conte

March 20, 1932 - November 12, 2012

Sue Inez Conte, 80, died Monday, Nov. 12, 2012, in Corvallis after a short and sudden illness. A voracious reader who donated and supported many progressive causes, she was surrounded by her family at the end of her life and was peaceful in passing. She was born on March 20, 1932, in Victory, Ky., to Lee Andrew and Goldie Angel. She was preceded in death by a younger sister, Joyce Paxton; and survived by a younger brother, Bob Angel of Eufaula, Ala. She graduated with honors from Teddy Roosevelt High School in Dayton, Ohio. While working at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as a civilian employee, she met her future husband, Frank Conte, who was deployed at the facility as an enlisted research assistant. They married in 1950. Sue moved to Corvallis in 1961 with her husband, Frank, and young family. A homemaker when her children were young, she later took a secretarial position in the office of the Biochemistry Department of Oregon State University. She worked there for 16 years before her retirement. She was renowned for her spelling and grammatical skills in the age before spellcheck, and for her quiet professionalism. Sue was a devoted mother to three children, Craig (Susie) Conte, Lisa (David) Downing and Paul (Gwen) Conte. She also was a proud grandmother to Megan Downing Zehner, Brennen Downing, Ian Conte, Lauren Conte and Nathan Conte. She also cherished her one great-grandchild, Noah Zehner. She will be remembered by all of them for her selfless generosity and gentle but firm opinions. In retirement, she and her husband ran Oxbow Orchards blueberry farm on Peoria Road in Halsey for many years, but she was very happy when she retired from “retirement” and moved back to Corvallis in 2007. Sue was a member of the OSU Folk Club since 1961. She loved volunteering at the OSU Folk Club Thrift Shop every Thursday morning. A lifelong Democrat, Sue donated to many charities during her lifetime. She directed that those who wish to honor her memory might donate in her name to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or the Southern Poverty Law Center. Her family will announce a celebration of life at a later date.