Carrie Sue Kelly Sullivan was born January 31,1937, in Lonoke, Arkansas, and died June 5, 2018, in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the eldest child of Dr. Robert Melton Kelly, Sr., M.D., and Ida Sue Hicks Kelly. She had three siblings: Julia (Judy) Kelly Robbins, Robert M. (Doc) Kelly, Jr., and T.J. Miles Kelly.
During World War II, Carrie moved with her family to Washington, to be near her father, who served as a United States Army physician in the Aleutian Islands. Dr. Kelly’s career led the family home to Arkansas, where Carrie attended school in Lonoke and Sheridan, graduating from Lonoke High School. Her high school days included distinctions in academics, voice, and basketball, while also becoming a cheerleader and winning titles of Lonoke High School Homecoming Queen, Miss White River, and Miss Drumstick.
She married Albert Eugene (Gene) Sullivan, the love of her life, on May 29, 1955. They had three children, whom they adored: Cherie, Mike, and Patti. Gene’s education and early career kept them in Arkansas (Fayetteville, Little Rock, North Little Rock).
His developing career then led them to Davis, California, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Brandon, Mississippi, before they returned to North Little Rock. During these years, Carrie devoted herself to her family, which included their children’s education and activities as well as business and related events for Gene. She served in choir and other capacities in their church, taught swimming and volunteered with the swim team, coached softball, and actively led and participated with the Women’s Golf League and Junior Golf Association.
She pursued an interest in anthropology at University of California, Davis. Carrie and Gene attended innumerable sports events in support of their children and grandchildren. They coordinated many events for family, instilling generations of loved ones with rich memories of Gulf Shores in Alabama, Brady Mountain on Lake Ouachita, Disney Land and Disney World, and family reunions.
Their home was a gathering place for family and friends with bountiful meals, swimming, conversation, Arkansas Razorback basketball and football, and good-natured fun and laughter. Carrie (MeMa) cradled her two infant great-grandbabies only a week before she died and joined for eternity those she missed on this earth. Preceding her in death were her parents, her sister, Julia Kelly Robbins, her husband, Albert E. Sullivan, and her daughter, Patricia (Patti) Sullivan Seidel.
Carrie Sullivan is survived by her brothers, Robert M. Kelly, Jr., and his wife Marylin and TJ Kelly and his wife Cherry; daughter Cheryl (Cherie) Sullivan Felcher and her husband Robert, son Michael E. (Mike) Sullivan and his wife Carol, son-in-law Pete Seidel; grandchildren Christopher Glaze and his wife Kelly, Tracee Gardner-Glaze and her wife Jenn, Susan Miller and her husband Justin, Kelly Sullivan and his wife Kim, Michelle Bruzatori and her husband Willy, Kevin Sullivan and Heather Delao, Staci McElroy and her husband Hunter; great-grandchildren Emily Gardner and Jackson Gardner-Glaze, Brody, Aiden, and Brinley Miller, Eden Demirel, Amelia and Avery Sullivan, Eli Bruzatori, and Evelyn McElroy; the “adopted” William Bruzatori family; and Hadude, Carrie’s beloved Yorkiepoo. Special thanks go to caregivers Tracee Gardner-Glaze, Trish Bass, Debbie Carman, Pattie Platt, Preston Noland, and many others who contributed to her care over the course of her disability and illness. Visitation is on Friday, June 8, from 5:00 to 7:00 pm at Boyd Funeral Home, 207 E 2nd St., Lonoke, AR.
Graveside services, officiated by the Reverend Andrea Allen, will be at 9:00 am on Saturday, June 9, Lonoke Cemetery, Hwy 89 and Kirk Ave, Lonoke, AR, followed by a Celebration of Life at 10:00 am, officiated by the Reverends Luke Conway and Cindy Henry at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Road, North Little Rock, AR. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Lakewood United Methodist Church, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, or Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Online guest book, www.
boydfuneralhome.net.
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