Willie Lee “Bill” Sullivan, age 82, passed away February 19, 2017 at Mountain View, MO. He was born Dec 20, 1934 in Hartshorn, MO to Marion J. Sullivan and Rosa (Briggs) Sullivan.

He left home at an early age to work until he joined the US Army in 1959, and was discharged as an E6 SSGT. He served in The Big Red One Unit, at Fort Riley, KS and three years in Germany. He was discharged from the army on November 10, 1964, then joined the National Guard, serving a total of 22 years. He was a member of The Boy Scouts of America with his son. In this organization, he was a member of the Tribe of Mic O SAY, and tapped in 1975 as an Honorary Warrior with the tribal name "Many Parts,” and his son was named "Little Many Parts". He had worked at many jobs including NAPA in Horton, Hiawatha and Atchison. Gary Coder Chevrolet in Horton, and he retired from the Kansas Department of Transportation after 20 years of service. In addition, he was a reserve officer in the Horton Police Reserves and Brown County Sheriff’s department.

Bill was married to Jean Rae Coffman May 12, 1959 and later divorced. Five children were born of this union: Russell Sullivan of Atchison, KS; Connie (Alan) Yaussi of Hiawatha, KS; Barbara (Douglas) Welch of Horton, KS; Brenda (Karl) Buttron of Lancaster, KS; and Cathy Nigus (Robert Rork) of Hiawatha, KS. 

Bill married Carol Fisk-Tuttle, and they shared their lives together for 28 years. She survives along with two stepchildren: Alisha Tuttle of Springfield, MO and Scott Tuttle (Soco Reyes) of Riverside, MO. He has 11 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren with one on the way. Bill also is survived by one brother Dwain Sullivan (Linda) of Sperry, OK, a stepsister Patty Como, Kansas City, MO, several nieces and nephews, and a brother-in-law Louis Gracheck, of Colorado.

He is preceded in death by his parents Marion and Rosa, one sister Sharon Gracheck, and one son-in-law Gary Nigus.

Bill enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and woodworking. He taught all of his children to swim in the beautiful rivers in Missouri where he spent his youth. His favorite places included Akers, Current River, Alley Springs, and Jacks Fork River. All of his children and several grandchildren enjoy canoeing these majestic rivers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be left for a memorial bench to be placed at Mountain View Health Care, or Brown County Veterans Honor Guard, sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday in Summerfield, Missouri. A Memorial Celebration Visitation will be held from 2-4 Sunday afternoon, March 12, at the Fisher Center in Hiawatha.

Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, Hiawatha, is assisting the family with local arrangements.