Ima "Sue" (Howell) Watts

Ima “Sue” (Howell) Watts, age 89, of Hot Springs, entered her Heavenly Home on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. She was born in Clark County, Arkansas on February 5, 1936 to the late Willis and Mamie Delsie (Jones) Howell of Amity.

Sue graduated from Amity High School in 1954. After graduation, she moved to Shreveport, Louisiana and began working for a dentist. In 1956, Sue married the love of her life, Herbert Watts. During their marriage, they lived in Houston, Texas; Phoenix, Arizona; Tahlequah and Muskogee, Oklahoma; Vernal, Utah; and several places around Arkansas, mainly Hot Springs. During these years, Sue worked at various retail places, retiring from WalMart in Hot Springs; however, Sue considered her primary job as a pastor’s wife, which she did for over 50 years, to be the most important work in her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband of 67 years, Herbert Watts; brothers, Horace, Faye Dean, and Dewey Howell; sisters, Mary Agnes Caruthers and Thelma Wilson; brother-in-law, Virgal Caruthers; sisters-in-law, Betty Howell and Peggy Howell.

Left to cherish her memory, daughter, Rhonda (Dave) Durham of Sherwood; son, Herb Watts of Hot Springs; grandchildren, Aaron (Cody) Watts, Nic Watts, Megan Watts, all of Hot Springs, Michael Durham of Missouri, Teddy (Julia) Durham of Branson, Missouri; great-grandchild, Alexander Watts of Hot Springs; sisters, Mamie (Benny) Fite and Dorothy Cato, both of Arkadelphia; brother, Wick Howell of Glenwood; and a host of in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and church family.

Visitation will be 10:00-11:00 a.m., Monday, December 29, 2025 at Ruggles-Wilcox Chapel. Funeral services will follow, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Jones Cemetery in Amity. Pallbearers are Sue’s nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff of The Springs of Red Oak and Hospice Home Care for their loving care.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Red Oak Missionary Baptist Church, 2791 Highway 290, Hot Springs, Arkansas 71913.

Arrangements are by Smith Family Funeral Homes-Arkadelphia, www.smithfamilycares.com.