Helen Sullivan

Helen Frances Sullivan passed into glory on June 20, 2021, in Duncan, Oklahoma at the age of 101. Helen was born on March 13, 1920 on a farm south of Orrick, Missouri to Mary Isabella Kirkpatrick Legg and Everett Preston Legg. She attended a country school her early years and graduated from Orrick High School in 1937. She attended Christian College, a girl’s college in Columbia, Missouri and graduated in 1939. Christian College later became Columbia College and is now a four year school. She enrolled in the University of Oklahoma in 1939 and received her degree in 1941. She received a Master’s Degree in Library Science in 1942. She met the love of her life, Paul D. Sullivan, at the University of Oklahoma in 1939 and they were married on April 24, 1942. They had 65 years together before his death in 2007.

She was preceded in death by her husband, her mother and father, and her sister, Marjorie Fisher, and her brother, Dr. William Legg. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Ann Legg of Kansas City, Missouri, three sons, Michael P. Sullivan and his wife Debbie, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Dr. Steve P. Sullivan and his wife Vicki of Houston, Texas; and Kent P. Sullivan and his wife Robin, of Duncan, Oklahoma. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Michelle and Dr. Jay Lynn White of Duncan, Oklahoma; Meredith Albin of Duncan, Oklahoma; Samuel Sullivan of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Andrew and Debby Sullivan of Stafford, Virginia; Wilson and Nicole McGarry, Christopher McGarry and Preston Sullivan and his fiancé, Adrienne Gab of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Patrick Sullivan and Caroline Sullivan, of Dallas, Texas. She is also survived by ten great grandchildren, Katelyn and Jillian White, Tyler, Bryce, Ellis, and Vivian Albin; Ashlyn Sullivan; Lily Sullivan and Madeline and Andrew McGarry.

Her life was centered on her home, family, and church. She enjoyed many happy years with the sporting events of her sons and their friends. After her sons were gone from the home, she became an active member of Duncan Regional Hospital Auxiliary in 1978. She taught first grade Sunday School classes at First Christian Church. She was an active member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship, serving as Condolence Chairman for many years. She served also with the youth, mostly preparing food. She and her husband, Paul, taught a Bible class for couples and singles for 38 years, serving the Lord as best they could.
The family will visit with friends on Sunday, June 27, 2021, between the hours of 2:00 and 4:00 P.M. at the Whitt Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, June 28, 2021, at the First Christian Church in Duncan, Oklahoma, under the direction of the Whitt Funeral Home. A private burial for the immediate and extended family will be observed at Resthaven Memorial Gardens prior to the memorial service with her grandchildren serving as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Memorial Fund of the First Christian Church for the Youth Trust or to the Communities Foundation of Oklahoma, 801 N.W. 63rd Street, Suite 200, Oklahoma City, OK 73116 for the benefit of the Paul & Helen Sullivan Family Scholarship Trust which assists Duncan High School graduates with their college education.
Online condolences may be made at www.whittfh.com.

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