Dr. Sue Y. Luckey

Born in a rural western North Carolina environment in 1934 to Addie Young and Thelma Wilson Young, Nelda Sue Young (as her parents called her) grew up as a young girl with animal pets and farming. This simple background taught her the values of family devotion and hard work. She graduated from high school at Bakersville, North Carolina and decided to attend college at nearby East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, completing her bachelor’s degree in business education. She returned to her home area of Bakersville to teach high school for three years. Working diligently over a short period of time, Sue finished the M.A. degree from Appalachia State University in Boone, North Carolina. Subsequently she moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where she taught high school for four years.

Not content to let her talents rest, Sue set her sights on a career in higher education—moving to Morehead, Kentucky, in 1963 to accept a position as an assistant professor in the College of Business at Morehead State University. It was here that she met her future husband George “Mac” Luckey and they were married in 1966 by then-MSU President Adron Doran. Sue was encouraged to take a sabbatical leave and enroll in a doctorate program at Southern Illinois University, which she completed soon after returning to MSU. Shortly after, and as a newly-minted Ph.D., Sue was appointed to the position of Chair of the Department of Information Systems. She and Mac (who had also completed his Ph.D. at Southern Illinois University) spent time sharing their specialized knowledge with faculty throughout the United States and overseas, speaking on the topic of “Active Learning and Critical Thinking Skills.”

Sue and Mac always enjoyed traveling and experiencing life. The years of their marriage witnessed countless trips to their home areas of North Carolina and Tennessee. At the same time, they visited sights in large cities from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast. Their house in Morehead was sprinkled with souvenirs from their travels to many foreign countries.

Sue devoted nearly 50 years to MSU as a professor and administrator, and after retirement she was employed as a special assistant to MSU President Ronald Eaglin. A couple of examples of her contributions during these retirement years as a special assistant were developing the Faculty and Staff Retirement Association and chairing the MSU 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Dr. Luckey will be remembered for her willingness to put students first as she served as the faculty advisor for the Cardinal Key Honor Society. Additionally, she helped develop a course listed as MSU 101, which was required for all freshmen, intended to facilitate their success as beginning students. More recently, she established scholarships for undergraduate students in business. In 2008 her accomplishments were further recognized when she was awarded the honorary title of Doctor of Public Service by MSU. Her distinguished career culminated by receiving the 2024 Founders Award for University Service to MSU.

A visitation will be held at Northcutt & Son Home for Funerals, 400 Fraley Drive, Morehead, KY 40351, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. immediately followed by a Celebration of Life service with Rev. Eric Espada providing words of comfort and presentations by Sue’s colleagues and friends. 

Private entombment will be at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum, 2835 Flemingsburg Road, Morehead, KY 40351.

Donations in memory of Dr. Sue Y. Luckey can be made to the Morehead United Methodist Church at 227 W. Main, Morehead, KY 40351.

View or sign guestbook at www.northcuttandson.com 

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