Sue (Maass) McGirk

Sue (Maass) McGirk of Ft. Worth, Texas passed away Thursday, January 23, 2025, at Harris Methodist Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. She was 79 years old. Sue was born February 10, 1945, in Hill County to Herman and Irene (Groppe) Maass. She lived in Irene as a young girl. She attended Bynum High School and later moved to Hillsboro to complete her high school education. Sue graduated from TCU in 1967 with her nursing degree.

Sue married Richard (Dick) McGirk, of Hillsboro, on September 3, 1966. After graduating from TCU, they lived in Colorado, London, and Maryland while Dick completed his post-graduate work. Then, moved to Delaware, Beaumont, Texas, West Virginia, Houston, Texas, and Fort Worth, Texas. 

Sue was a registered nurse for over forty years. Sue worked in nursing in every community where she lived. Sue dedicated her career to working with adults and children with diabetes and eventually became a research nurse in Houston, focusing on children with diabetes. She was a passionate advocate for her patients and their families. Sue received many awards and recognitions over the years for her contributions to the diabetes community. Her work family was very important to her, and she created life-long friendships with many of her co-workers.

Sue faithfully attended church wherever she lived and enjoyed being a Sunday School teacher. From teaching children, sewing Christmas play costumes, creating vacation bible school projects, and sharing about her travel to the Holy Lands, the church was an important part of Sue’s life. She was a life-long attendee of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Malone.

She loved sewing, decorating her home, hunting for antique Art Deco furniture, and collecting art. Sue never passed a thrift store, resale shop, or antique store without checking it out. She had a style all of her own and loved to wear beautiful, stylish clothes, better yet, if they had sparkles or a pop of lime green.

Her greatest joy came from her family. Sue took great pride in her relationship with her family. Her parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, nephews, and nieces, all had a connection with Sue. Even though she sometimes lived far from central Texas, they all knew Sue was a phone call away from sharing good news, providing help to someone in need, or sharing stories with her. 

She was known to her grandchildren and all children as SueSue. Sue loved to cook with her granddaughters and share recipes that were important to her to pass down to them. Sue was known by many for her sweet rice, just like her mom made, and her gumbo that she perfected over the years. Her absolute favorite treat was coconut pie.

Sue was actively involved in the Bynum former students association and Hillsboro High School ex-student association. She faithfully attended school reunions for Bynum and Hillsboro and created the first Irene Community Reunion.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Herman and Irene Maass, sister, Margie Morgan Day, brothers Dwayne “Pete” Maass and Clyde Maass.

Survivors include her husband, Richard McGirk of Fort Worth, her son Brian McGirk of Fort Worth; her daughter Allison (McGirk) Krogness, son-in-law Carl Krogness and granddaughters, Violet, Mae, and Hattie Krogness of Fort Worth; her sister Janie Pierce of West; her sister Angela Steinkamp, husband Rick of Crawford and many nieces, nephews and great-nephews and niece..

A visitation will be held Friday, January 31, from 5-7 pm at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Home, 2495 Corsicana Hwy, Hillsboro, Texas. 

A celebration of Sue’s life will be held at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, 121 HCR 3446,Malone, Texas 76660, on Saturday February 1, at 2 pm. Friends and family will be served lunch at noon on Saturday, prior to the service at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. We will be sharing stories, memories, photographs, and maybe a slice of coconut pie while we come together to celebrate Sue’s life.

Memorials can be made to St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Attn: Jeanette Herrell, 636 HCR 3424 East Malone, Texas 76660 or Walling Cemetery Association.