Inis Sue Charles

Inis Sue Ratliff Charles was born June 4, 1948 in Pikeville, Ky. and passed away July 4, 2021 at the Pikeville Medical Center. She was the daughter of the late Glenn and Ample Adkins Ratliff. Along with her parents, Inis Sue was preceded in death by her birth mother, June Justice Bertrand, and her half sisters, Linda and Margaret, three brothers in law, Robert Charles, Arvil Charles, and Bob Cox, and one special cousin Eddie Myers. She was also preceded in death by her mother and father in law whom she was very close to, Anthony and Oma Pinson Charles. Inis Sue is survived by her husband Jack Charles, daughter, Sarah Charles Bentley (Greg) of Pikeville, and grandson, Andrew Bentley. She is also survived by her half siblings, Johnny Bertrand, Marjorie Pour-Ghasemi, brother and sister in laws who became like siblings to her 45 years ago: Argyle and Jackie Charles, Rebecca Charles, Francis Charles, Curtis and Carolyn Sue Syck, Danny and Linda Bevins, Hugh and Margaret Smith. She is also survived by many special cousins, especially Diana Collins Myers and her daughter, Erin, and many nephews and nieces. She will be greatly missed by many family, friends, and church family. Sue graduated in 1966 from Hellier High School, a 1970 graduate receiving her Bachelor of Science in Education from Pikeville College and did her graduate work at Morehead State University. She began her first career as a teacher in Greenup County, Kentucky then Pike County then moved to Wise County, Virginia. In 1975 she began her life's desire to become a Counselor/Testing Specialist for the Ky. Department of Employment Service. While employed there she was the Dislocated Worker Specialist doing retraining contracts for unemployed miners to work with various vocational schools and colleges of higher education. In her private life, she was a member of the Grassy Freewill Baptist Church serving as a choir member, pianoist, and president of Grassy Ladies Auxillary. She also served as a 4-H council member and was awarded the honor of Kentucky Colonel for her years of service to the citizens of Pike County. Sue enjoyed reading, sewing, singing, playing piano, and visiting with friends and family She enjoyed going to see shows at Artists Collaborative Theatre in Elkhorn City. Another favorite hobby was watching the local wildlife from her sunroom-the birds, squirrels, chipmonks, and deer. Inis Sue was a member of the Gideons International Ladies Auxillary for more than 20 years, and was also a member of the Anna O. Young Chapter of Eastern Star. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Gideons International at P.O. Box 523 Pikeville, Ky. 41502 or the Grassy Freewill Baptist Church at P.O. Box 140 Raccoon, Ky. 41557. Visitation will be Wednesday at 6p.m. at the Lucas & Son Funeral Home. Church services will be Wednesday and Thursday at 7p.m. The funeral will be Friday, July 9, 2021 at 1p.m. at the Lucas & Son Funeral Home with Lester Morris officiating. Burial will follow in the Johnson Memorial Park.