Jim Sullivan

Jim Sullivan passed away at his home in Pinetop, Arizona on the morning of October 9 where he was being cared for by his beloved family. He lacked about a month of being 90 years old at the time of his death.

Jim was born to Fred & Elizabeth Aldred Sullivan on November 16, 1933 in Waltham, Massachusetts. Shortly afterwards, the family moved to Farmington, New Hampshire where he grew up and attended school.

The family moved to Lusk, Wyoming in 1948, living there until November of 1951. After his first 3 1/2 years of high school in Lusk, Jim returned to New Hampshire with his family and graduated from high school there in 1952. Jim then joined the U.S. Air Force in late 1952. After his discharge, he returned to Wyoming and settled in Riverton, Wyo. He married JoAnne Fallbeck in 1956 and had one son, Michael, who is now deceased. They later divorced and six years later he married Yvonne Keil.

Jim hired on with the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier in 1955 in Riverton, Wyoming. In 1962, he and Yvonne moved to Rio Linda, CA where he continued his job with the Postal Service for 36 years until November 30, 1990. Sadly, Yvonne died that same year.

In 1992, he met up with an old classmate and friend from his high school in Lusk, Wyoming. At their 40th year class reunion, Kathleen Gunn and Jim were finally reunited and rekindled their endearing friendship. They were subsequently married on July 4th of 1994.

Jim and Kathy both enjoyed the cool, pine-scented air flowing through the trees outside their Pinetop home for the next 29 years. Jim had finally found the peaceful, picturesque place that he had always dreamed of. Squirrels, hummingbirds, and the Stellar (Blue) Jays were some of the many wildlife friends he joyfully welcomed and observed. Jim and Kathy enjoyed their life together in Pinetop until his passing. Jim died at home, with his family, in the place that he loved....in Pinetop.

Jim was an active member of the White River Lodge #62 (F&AM) in Show Low, Az. For several years, he served as their Chaplin and marshal. He sang in the church choir and the local White Mountain Chorale in Pinetop until he was physically unable to do so. He enjoyed 15 years of golfing with the brothers in the lodge and was always willing to help with any task that needed to be done -always with that little Irish "twinkle" in his eye and a good joke to share with friends and family.

During the first 15 years of his marriage to Kathy, they traveled extensively world-wide. The later 15 years were very different when Jim became more housebound due to his failing health. In recent years, they spent the winter months living in Tucson, Az.

Jim is survived by 3 sisters - Lila Langis of Maine; Judy Niblett of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Linda Bayne of Wheatland, Wyo. He was preceded in death by 3 siblings; his brother, Fred, his sister Beatrice Carpenter (both formerly from Lusk, Wyoming), and Genevieve Connacher of Connecticut.

He also leaves many nieces and nephews in addition to Kathy's family that loved him dearly. Kathy's daughter, Shannon Turpin and grandson Isaac Collins, of Tucson, Az; Kathy's son, Craig Turpin and wife Pam of Albuquerque, NM; and two granddaughters, Hannah and Alexandra Turpin.

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