Sue Waggoman

Sue Brance Waggoman, chef, pianist, and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother was born on May 7, 1935 in Houston, TX to JD Brance and Amoretta Hall Brance. Sue grew up in Houston, gained recognition for her musical talent while at Kinkaid Academy, and graduated from Lamar High School. After attending the University of Alabama, she moved to Fort Worth with her family and worked as the personal secretary to the vice president of Ridgelie Bank.\r\n \r\nIn May of 1958, a young man by the name of John Waggoman sped at 100mph from a business meeting in Snyder to make his date with Sue. They were married the following year and bought a home in Garland where John would often find Sue playing the piano in the evenings when he came home from work. In 1961, they welcomed their son Jud and relocated to the Texas Hill Country shortly after.\r\n \r\nIt was during this time that Sue began to perfect her skills as a chef, first for the delight of her own family and friends and later as a respected member of the esteemed Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs. At a high-profile charity event in San Antonio, Sue's cake took first place, gaining the attention of Oscar de la Renta who congratulated her, "Lady, I cannot believe you know how to cook and dress so elegantly!"\r\n \r\nBefore being diagnosed with cancer in 1999, Sue shared the kitchen with Julia Child, Wolfgang Puck, and Dean Farring among others. Outside the kitchen, her musical talent on the piano graced concert halls, hotel lobbies, and her own living room. Her concerts-both professional and impromptu-gained the praise from famous artists, WWII generals, and her family.\r\n \r\nIn 2004, she spent a year in the hospital battling cancer after which she was declared cancer-free. It was during these last years of her life that she enjoyed flying the "Sue Jet" to visit friends and family. These pleasures were short lived due to congestive heart failure and end stage renal disease.\r\n \r\nSue passed peacefully on the afternoon of Thursday, April 9th in the presence of her family, overlooking her Texas hills.\r\n \r\nShe is survived by her husband John, sheltie Marnie, son Jud of San Jose del Cabo, granddaughter Lee and fiancee Kyle Grest of San Antonio, grandson 1LT Brance and wife Kate of Ft. Lewis, Washington, sister-in-law Ann of Gainesville, TX, as well as many cousins and friends.\r\n \r\nThe family wishes to thank the many physicians and nurses who so diligently cared for Sue. In addition, the family thanks Grimes Funeral Chapels of Kerrville for their services. A memorial service honoring Sue is scheduled for Thursday, May 7 at her home, at Fossil Ridge Ranch at 1:00 PM with the Rev. Allan Conkling of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church officiating, followed by interment in Houston on Saturday.\r\n\r\nMemorials may be made to Peterson Regional Medical Center Foundation, 551 Hill Country Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028.\r\n\r\n[contact-form-7 id="73" title="Send Condolences"]