of Greenbrier, AR

June 27, 1931 - May 2, 2025

Martha Sue Swann Dees (June 27, 1931-May 2, 2025)

Martha Sue Swann Dees passed away May 2, 2025 at the Salem Place Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Conway, Arkansas after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel Walker and Opal Gilbert Swann; her husbands, Bill Baker, Vernon Evans and Durwood Dees; a daughter, Sherry Lynn Baker Presley and a granddaughter, Mischelle "Micky" Bryant Johnson. She is survived by a brother, Sam (Esther) Swann of Wooster, Arkansas; a sister, Sandra Wilson of Houston, Texas; nieces, Lori (Donny) Hymer of El Dorado, Arkansas; Kelly (Kenny) Frederick of Houston, Texas; and nephews, Todd (Carolyn) Swann of Heber Springs, Arkansas; Kevin (Heather) Overton of Houston, Texas.

Sue was born on June 27, 1931 in Fulton, Arkansas. The first part of her life was spent in the Fulton/Hope area. Later her family would move to Camden where she would graduate from Fairview High School in 1949. While in high school, Sue was involved as a cheerleader and played basketball for the Fairview Cardinals. She remained a devoted basketball fan for the rest of her life.

After graduation in June of 1949, Sue would marry her high school sweetheart, Bill Baker. In 1953 she would give birth to a daughter, Sherry Lynn. She was a devoted wife and mother. Later the family would move to Pine Bluff, Arkansas where she worked as a bookkeeper for Murray-Hart Drug Store.

Sue loved spending time with her family, camping and enjoying lake life at Lake Ouachita. She loved to water ski and spent countless hours teaching her family and friends to ski. Along with Bill, she was an avid Arkansas Razorback fan.

After Bill's death in 1980, Sue would share her life and love with two other husbands: Vernon Evans of Hampton, Arkansas and Durwood Dees of Springhill, Louisiana. Durwood and Sue would relocate to Greenbrier, Arkansas in 2005.

Sue was a member of Springhill Baptist Church in Springhill, Arkansas.

The family wishes to thank the medical staff and caregivers at the Salem Place Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center for the kind and loving care they provided to her during her time there.

There will be a celebration of her life held on Friday, May 9th at the Springhill Baptist Church located at 25 State Hwy 287, Greenbrier, Arkansas with Bro. Ed Stephenson officiating. A visitation for friends and family will begin at 12:30PM with the service beginning at 1:00PM. Internment will follow at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Pine Bluff, Arkansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

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