Carolyn Sue Maykuth
Masontown
Carolyn Sue “Susie” Maykuth, gained her wings on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.
Her compassionate heart touched so many in our community, especially the children she taught. Her faith was strong, as she was a student at All Saints School, graduate of F. Kolb Memorial High School, and a lifelong member of the parish and Christian Mothers at St. Francis of Assi Church. She attended Penn State University Park for her bachelor’s degree, where she was a Little Sister of Theta Chi, then continued to West Virginia University for her masters in elementary education. It was during her student teaching that she met her husband, John Maykuth, Jr. They resided in Masontown raising their daughters Shelly Masone-Davis (James) and Chrystal Roderick (Jake). She considered James and Jake her sons. She enjoyed traveling around the world with her husband and family. She especially loved white sandy beaches with clear blue water. She was a member of Zek’s Ladies League Bowling.
Susie was a kindergarten teacher at German Central and a first-grade teacher at Masontown Elementary. After retiring, she continued to share her kind spirit by volunteering at Ruby Memorial Hospital Pediatric Unit. She continued to make learning fun, by going back to teaching kindergarten at All Saints School and volunteering at Smithfield Elementary with their PTO. In 2009, she was named Educator of the Year for Fayette County. She will be remembered not only for the love that she had for teaching and her students but, the lives that she touched. She loved being around children, especially her three grandchildren, Sebastian Roderick, Dominic Masone, and Estelle Roderick. They were her world and she was so proud to be a part of every event and special moments in their lives. She was their biggest cheerleader and “Permanent Nana”. Susie took each child’s hand in hopes of opening their mind but ended up touching their hearts forever.
She was preceded to heaven by her parents Joe and Marie Zawelensky, her daughter Cheryl Marie Maykuth, brother-in-law, Brent Blake, sister-in-law, Mary Anne and Steve Billcheck, in-laws John and Mary Maykuth, Sr. and cherished nephew, Toby Maykuth.
Susie is also survived by her sister Nancy Blake, Mary and Frank Maykuth, and Pat Maykuth, nieces and nephews, Steve Billcheck, DeAnne Butler, John Billcheck (Josanne), Mindy Hair, Brent Blake (Laura), and her close friend, Glenn Palmer as well as great nieces and nephews, Chase, Lilly, and Caroline and numerous friends from her travels around the world.
Family and Friends will be received at the JOHN S. MAYKUTH Jr. FUNERAL HOME in Masontown, PA on Friday, Sept 4th from 2 to 8 p.m. A prayer service will be held on Saturday, September 5th at 9 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. A mass of Christian burial will follow at St. Francis of Assi Church and interment at Lafayette Memorial Park.
A special thank you to Ronnie (her chemo buddy), Dr. Craig and the wonderful team of nurses in the Infusion Center at Mon General Hospital, her care team at Family Ties especially Kayla and Becky, The Caring Mission, Amedisys Hospice, and all our friends and family that supported her with prayers, cards, encouragement, and positivity on this journey.
You often hear the expression “Everybody loved so and so”. Guaranteed you never heard it more than “Everybody loved Susie”. Her greatest attribute was making every person she met feel like they were the most special person in the world. This came naturally to her, because she actually was the most special person in the world. She loved life and her small close-knit family.
In lieu of flowers, please take the time to love and hug the “Susie” in your life and share an act of kindness each day. You never know when those moments could be gone forever.