Orvill Sullivan Jr. was born Dec. 29,1924 at Sargent, the son of Orvill Sr and Zella Walls Sullivan. He departed this life Sunday, March 31, 2024 at the Kabul Nursing Home, surrounded by loved ones at the age of 99 years, 3 months and 2 days.
Orvill loved to tell stories about working on the road or stories about growing up with his brother and sisters. Orvill never knew a stranger, he would strike up a conversation with anyone he came in contact with and discuss horses, cars, trucks and large equipment, anything to hold a conversation. He attended school and graduated from the 8th grade.
Orvill met the love of his life Gynetha Clay McNew at Oak Dale Church, they were married Jan. 14, 1945. To this union, they were blessed with three daughters and three sons. He loved his family, always teaching his children or grandchildren how to make things or work on cars. Through the years he was employed as a heavy equipment operator building roads, worked at Bleu Feed and the Burdine Township doing road maintenance.
Orvill was preceded in death by his parents, Orvill Sr. and Zella Sullivan; his loving wife of 66 years, Gynetha; sister, Lily Cook; brother, Floyd “Toots” Sullivan; son-in-law, Junior Stoops and grandchildren, Jessica Sullivan and Troy Sullivan, Orvill’s legacy continues through his children, Judy Mae Ice and husband, Carl, Kenneth Lee Sullivan and wife, Judy Ann, David Ray Sullivan and wife, Donna, Jo Ann Schauer and husband, Dana, Patsy Sue Stoops and Clay Dean Sullivan and wife, Becky; sister, Betty Sullivan Taylor and husband, George; 16 grandchildren each of which had special nicknames and he remembered them all; 31 great-grandchildren; 21 great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and friends.
Orvill’s family and friends take comfort in knowing that his memory will live on through the countless lessons learned, how to be self-reliant, stubborn and many ways to use ingenuity. He touched many lives and will be missed.
Services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 5, at the Cabool Second Baptist Church with his grandson, Chad Sullivan officiating. Pallbearers were Ronnie Sullivan, Danny Sullivan, Wyatt Sullivan, Andrew Chronister, Miles Bassett and Terry Kimery. Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Sullivan, David Sullivan and Clay Sullivan. Interment was in the Cabool Cemetery under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool, Mo. Online condolences may be made at www.egcfuneralhome.com.