Obituary for Willie Joe Sullivan

W. Joe Sullivan, 83, of Bastrop, LA, passed away at home on Friday, August 19, surrounded by his five children. Funeral services will be held at 10 AM, Wednesday, August 24, at Golden Funeral Home in Bastrop, with the Rev. Kyle Peters officiating. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, August 23, 5-7 PM.

Willie Joe Sullivan was born August 21, 1932, in Clubb, MO, the fourth of 16 children born to William Rance Sullivan, Sr., and Gladys Mae (Allen) Sullivan. He served in the Air Force from 1952-1956 where he completed training that prepared him for his career with the Bell System.

A lifelong learner and a man of many interests, his hobbies spanned hunting, fishing, beekeeping, animal keeping, gardening, carpentry, woodworking, landscaping, landscape architecture, and plant propagation. He also enjoyed reading, art, music, foreign movies, and learning about other cultures. He was a member of Cherry Ridge Baptist Church since the 1960’s. He also served as a Boy Scout troop leader, a BellSouth Pioneer volunteer, and was a member of the Cotton Country Players (Rose Theatre) and a Louisiana Master Gardener.

Mr. Sullivan is survived by daughters Sherri Sullivan, Shelly Justice and husband David; sons Bruce Sullivan and wife Priscilla, Mark Sullivan and wife Shawn, Bryan Sullivan and wife Karen; grandchildren Jason Sullivan, Ryan Sullivan, Laura Brack, Jessica Sullivan, Ashley Sullivan, and Joseph Sullivan; and great-grandchildren Connor Brack, Logan Brack, McKenzie Sullivan, Makayla Sullivan, and Peyton Sullivan.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 59 years, Myrna Bassham Sullivan, parents William Rance and Gladys Sullivan, brothers Kenneth Franklin Sullivan, Donald Willis Sullivan, and Granville Eugene (Newt) Sullivan, and sister Janet Kay (Sullivan) Ferdinandy.

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