Sue Choate Maresh, aka "Sarge", of Lexington Park, made her transition on October 27, 2010 at St. Mary's Hospice House in Callaway. She was the middle daughter of the late Rube Choate and the late Frances J. Choate, born at home on the family farm Feb 3, 1932 in Glen, Mississippi.

When she had just turned 6 years old her older sister, Thelma, died of appendicitis just as her baby sister, Sarah, had been born on Christmas Day. She demonstrated a strong intellect from an early age and excelled in her studies. Upon High School Graduation in 1949, her parents scraped together the money to send her to Baptist Memorial Medical School, in Memphis, Tennessee to study nursing. As it was a four year program, today it is known as a Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing. She graduated in 1952 with honors.

Upon graduation, she married Walter J. Maresh, USN (Ret), in Memphis, Tennessee and spent the next nine years at various Navy Bases around the world. She began her nursing career in Hawaii, her daughter was born in California, her son in Memphis, Tenn,. She was able to go to Italy to see the Mona Lisa in person while living in Morrocco, North Africa. The family then moved to St Mary's County, Maryland in 1961 where she began her 30 year civil service career at the Patuxent River Hospital as a maternity nurse, retiring in 1991.

Her strong intellect and drive to succeed led her to excel in many hobbies. She is the breeder on record of the first two " homebred" AKC Champions ( Poodles) at the newly formed Southern Maryland Kennel Club. She served as the Charter Corresponding Secretary for this club. She grew award winning roses; she taught herself to knit and crochet beautiful things by reading the directions in a book. In her later years she served as "anchor" for her daughter breeding and showing AKC Champion Pugs. She cussed like crazy at the Washington Post Crossword Puzzle on the days when the clues were about computers or Lady Gaga. She never missed a televised Redskins game or the Kentucky Derby every spring.

She is predeceased by her parents, sisters Thelma and Sarah Gray and former husband Walter. Also, by her beloved "Bubbles", "Otis" and "Daisey".

She is survived by "Maggie"-her 16 year old pug; daughter, Jamie S. Maresh of the home; her son, John D. Maresh and spouse, Jason Rounsavall of Blackberry Glen B&B, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, Canada; niece Donna Dean and her son Jon Dean and his son Jack; brother-in-law, William "Pete" Gray; Nephews: David and Danny Gray as well as grand nieces and great grand nieces and nephews all of Glen, Mississippi, also by her special friends Mary Latimer of Concord, NC and "Boots" Ulrich of Lexington Park.

The family will receive friends on Monday, November 1, 2010 from 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, Leonardtown, MD where a Memorial Service will be held at 7:00 PM with Bill Hobgood officiating. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the wonderful Hospice House, 44724 Hospice Lane, Callaway, MD 20620 or to Mid-Atlantic Pug Rescue: P. O. Box 34006, Richmond, VA 23234.

Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.