Sue Jeanine Standley Henderson

Sue Jeanine Standley Henderson, a smart, sassy, strong, independent, and unapologetic 86-year-old, passed away peacefully at home on December 25th, 2024, with her daughter Michelle and granddaughter Gabriella at her side. She is survived by her dearly beloved brother, Robert Wayne Standley, (Linda McKillips); Sue’s daughter, Michelle Henderson and her granddaughter Gabriella Gaviria, all of North Little Rock.

Sue was born in El Dorado, Arkansas; June 26, 1938 to Dixie Jewel Culp Standley Miller and Robert Verlin Standley, both of whom preceded her in death. Sue was the oldest of three children. She is preceded in death by her parents, her beloved brother John Martin Standley (“Cookie” Standley) ; and has many dear aunts, uncles, and cousins in the Culp and Clark clans.

After graduation from both Little Rock Central High School in 1956, and later – business college, she lived in Houston, Texas for several years and spent summers at Galveston Beach. After getting married, she moved to Los Angeles, CA where her daughter, Michelle, was born.

Sue worked for notable employers including the Arkansas Arts Center, where she was proud to have befriended such Arkansas luminaries as Daisy Gatson Bates and Arkansas’ First Lady Jeanette MacDonald Rockefeller, then the Federal Aviation Administration, before finally retiring from Southwestern Bell/AT&T. However, her favorite job was with Curran Productions in Los Angeles where, among other things, she worked on the production of Peter Pan starring Angela Lansbury. Curran Productions often partnered with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Dorothy Chandler pavilion and LA Light Opera to bring Broadway shows to the West Coast.

“My mother loved many things, top among them were books. She was a voracious reader, devoured books, loved playing chess, card games, taking road trips, especially to California any time she had the chance, and going to theme parks to ride the roller coasters.”

Her favorite restaurant was Musso and Frank’s in Hollywood, CA and Bruno’s Little Italy, here in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Sue lived a really rich life, and paid close attention to current events and politics. She loved and admired leaders like John F. Kennedy and was always brought to tears when recalling his assassination. She was a shameless fan of Bill Clinton and Barrack Obama.

Sue’s daughter Michelle said: “Some of my most treasured memories were from taking Mom on her dream trip to Europe in 2017 and visiting 5 countries including Ireland, and riding on lots of passenger trains, watching her soak up the culture.”

It would be an oversight to not mention how much Sue loved music in general. But especially Nat King Cole, Miles Davis, Chet Baker, and vocalists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Billy Holiday, and Sarah Vaughn.

In the 1960’s she had a personal connection to the Hollywood Bowl and The Greek Theatre, and was quite privileged to see live performances at both venues, including meeting and watching Johnny Mathis, being backstage at the Beatles’ first performance there in 1964, and seeing performances by others that she was friends with, such as the band “The Association.”

She lived in Honolulu for 2 years, and made many dear friends there, before returning to California, and finally back home to Arkansas. She may not have left her heart in San Jose, but not far from, her heart is still beating in Hollywood.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, February 16, 2025 from 2:00-4:00 PM

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be directed to the Alzheimer’s Arkansas, or the Pulaski County Humane Society.

Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR  72114.  501-758-1170.