Carol Gilbert

Sue Gilbert peacefully passed away after a long illness on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at home, surrounded by her immediate family.

Sue was born on February 8, 1947 in Galveston, Texas to the late Lloyd and Louise (Rowell) Crabtree. She grew up in Lamarque, Texas and attended school in the Hitchcock, Texas school district, where she obtained her high school diploma in 1965. At Hitchcock High School she was elected senior class president and was a member of the marching band, playing the clarinet. She also participated in many other school activities. Since that time, she maintained a close association with a large group of her high school friends, attending reunions that are still ongoing today.

Sue enrolled at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas in the fall of 1965, majoring in English history and literature. After interruptions in her education, she graduated from the University of Houston in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She then taught English at Pearland High School in Pearland, Texas while pursuing post-graduate studies in library science. Sue earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Houston, Clear Lake in December of 1981.

Sue accepted the position of assistant librarian at J. Frank Dobie High School in the Pasadena (Texas) school district in 1981, becoming the head librarian in 1985. She held that position until her retirement in January of 2012. Sue was also the evening reference librarian at San Jacinto College (south campus, in Houston, Texas) until 2015.

Once employed by the school system, Sue used her summer vacations to travel. She enjoyed many trips overseas, visiting the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain and the Middle East. On one of her visits to England, she even took the tunnel beneath the English Channel to France where she was tremendously impacted by the sight of the cemetery at Normandy. She also experienced several vacation cruises in the Caribbean and to Bermuda. Sue’s fellow teachers at Dobie High School would sometimes accompany her on her travels abroad where she would act as a surrogate tour guide for the group. She also visited and vacationed in many areas of the United States including the Pacific Northwest, New England, the Rocky Mountains, the Carolinas and California. All in all, England remained her favorite destination, making several trips and extended visits throughout the years.

Sue is survived by her husband of fifty-three years, Jimmy R. Gilbert, daughter, Laura Lynn Rice (Trevor), grandchildren Rhett (Katelyn) and Madeleine Rice, great-grandson Roman Rice, sister Patricia Scarbrough Vegas, nephew Stephen (Dana) Scarbrough, niece Stacy Scarbrough, plus numerous cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Sue was also an avid reader of fiction as well as non-fiction while always extolling the virtues and advantages of reading in education. Nothing suited her better than enjoying a glass of Chardonnay while watching her favorite television shows Rawhide and Law and Order, Special Victims Unit, while surrounded by her cats. She was always known for her love of cats and had many as companions throughout the years. She will be sorely missed by Riley and Dudley Moore, her TV watching felines as well has by her human family and friends.