Little did he know that on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2017, at 11:07 p.m., after months
of battling cancer, and with all his family home, his labors were eased and he joined his
heavenly family.
Born in Lonoke, Arkansas, on February 8, 1936, the fifth of nine children to Joe D. and Clara
Johnson Sullivan, he had a happy childhood and fond memories of growing up in Lonoke. As a
young teenager he met and fell in love with the beautiful Carrie Sue Kelly and married her on
May 29, 1955. Gene and Carrie had three children, and after 62 years of marriage they had
seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren and one on the way. He loved each one
dearly and his grandchildren fondly remember “Pepa” as a role model of Christian fatherhood.
Gene was a member of Lakewood United Methodist Church in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He
was an active member of Gideons International and regularly spoke at churches in the Lonoke
and Carlisle area. Gene was a godly man who was consistently generous, patient, and kind,
and who strove to be a peacemaker where he saw a chance to provide healing where he saw
conflict.
After earning a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the University of Arkansas, Gene was
employed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service (later
reorganized as the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.) In 1990, Gene retired
from the same agency having served as the Deputy State Conservationist in California, and
State Conservationist in Nebraska, Mississippi, and Arkansas. During his tenure, he also
served as a member of the Missouri Basin Interagency Committee, the Tennessee Tom Bigbee
Interagency Committee, the Arkansas Governor’s Water Resource Task Force, and he chaired
the Arkansas Red and White River Basin Interagency Commission. He served on the United
States Water Resources Team in Haiti and Hungary. Gene was a graduate of the United States
Senior Executive Development Program, a past president of the Arkansas Society of
Agricultural Engineers, a member of the University of Arkansas Academy of Biological and
Agricultural Engineers, was inducted to the Arkansas Association of Conservation District’s Hall
of Fame and received numerous state and national conservation, wildlife, and equal opportunity
employment awards. Gene was a registered licensed professional engineer and land surveyor.
Following his retirement from the USDA, Gene began a second career, founding the
engineering consulting business, Sullivan & Associates, P.A. He actively managed various
water resource projects including the White River and Bayou Meto Regional Irrigation Water
Districts. He provided consulting services on water issues in Argentina and Bolivia. Gene was
active in developing state and national legislation concerning water resources. He was
instrumental in developing the new Interstate 40 interchange in Lonoke and had extensive
experience in planning environmentally sensitive infrastructure projects, relocating utilities, and
obtaining land rights for projects under the federal Uniform Relocation Act.
Gene’s volunteer activities included serving as president of Lakewood Property Owner’s
Association Board of Directors and coaching various LPOA football, softball, water polo, and
track teams. He taught Sunday school and regularly ministered to the sick and the elderly.
Gene was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed spending time with his children and
grandchildren. He was an ardent Razorback supporter and he would never give up on his team
“until the fat lady sang.” More than anything, he loved his God and his family.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Joe D. and Clara Sullivan, his daughter, Patricia
Lynn Sullivan Seidel, and his siblings, Eunice Woodard, Rosalie Sullivan, Joe R. Sullivan, and
Ray Sullivan.
Gene is survived by his wife, Carrie Sue Kelly Sullivan, his daughter, Cheryl Sue (Robert)
Felcher, his son, Michael Eugene (Carol) Sullivan, his grandchildren, Chris (Kelly) Glaze,
Tracee (Jen) Gardner-Glaze, Susan (Justin) Miller, Kelly (Kim) Sullivan, Michelle (Willy)
Bruzatori, Kevin (Heather) Sullivan, and Staci (Hunter) McElroy, and great-grandchildren Emily
Gardner, Jackson Gardner-Glaze, Eden Demirel, Brody Miller, Aiden Miller, Brinley Miller,
Amelia Sullivan, and Evelyn McElroy. He is also survived by his siblings, Sally (Jerry) Johnson,
Brenda (Bob) Buchanan, Doris (Wayne) Dill, Kenneth (Betty) Sullivan and a host of nieces and
nephews and other family and friends, including his adopted Argentinian family, William, Grace,
Florence, Willy, and Camila Bruzatori.
The family expresses their grateful appreciation to all Gene’s healthcare providers and care
givers during his illness. Special appreciation is given to Jeanetta and Ginger DePriest for their
loving devotion and service.
Visitation is from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., on Thursday, September 7, 2017, at Boyd Funeral
Home, 207 E. 2nd St., Lonoke, Arkansas. Burial services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday,
September 8, 2017, at Lonoke Cemetery, AR-89 & Kirk Roads, Lonoke, Arkansas, followed by a
celebration of Gene’s life at 11:00 a.m. at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 1922 Topf Rd.,
North Little Rock, Arkansas. Services will be officiated by the Reverends Andrea Allen, Cindy
Henry, and Luke Conway.
Please sign the online guestbook at www.boydfuneralhome.net. In lieu of flowers, contributions
may be made to Arkansas Children’s Foundation, PO Box 2222, Little Rock, AR, 72203, in
memory of Albert E. “Gene” Sullivan.
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