Albert Sullivan

• ALBERT EUGENE “GENE” SULLIVAN months ago planned a family Labor Day celebration.

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.