In Memory of

George

Edward

Sullivan

Obituary for George Edward Sullivan

It is with mixed feelings that we share the news of the death of our beloved George Edward Sullivan. First, the feeling of the deepest sorrow a heart can feel and second, great joy knowing he is safely in his heavenly home in the presence of his Saviour.

George died in the early morning of Friday October 6th at Lakeridge Health Oshawa.

He is survived by Ruth, his beloved bride of over 70 years, his daughter Colleen, son-in-law Lindsay, daughter-in-law Jane, son Grant, daughter-in-law Fiona, and daughter Sindy.

Grandchildren and “apples of his eye”: Mark (Hailey), Joseph (Ana), Laura (Troy),Sarah (Stéphane), Rachel (Jordan), Kyle.

Great grandchildren: Hunter, Adelaide, Romi, Ethan, Kennedy, Emma and Elizabeth

Also surviving him are his brothers Fred (Shirley), Arthur (Carol) and John (Rose) and sister-in-laws Gloria and Norene and many, many, many dear friends.

He was pre-deceased by his son Dan, his parents Joe and Lucy Sullivan, sisters Dorothy, Bernice, Elsie, and Evelyn and brother Bernie.

From our family to the caregivers on Emma’s Floor the most gratitude possible for the kind and compassionate care for our parents.

How do you describe George without the space and time to write a book, and yet capture the essence of the incredible man he was? Well how about a whole list of points and key words. Get out a pen and cross off as many as you personally experienced or at least heard a story about.

Born at home, in Cooks Cove, Nova Scotia, second child and first son in a family that grew to 9 children.

His Mom was a school teacher. His Dad worked hard wherever there was work to support a growing family, it was the 30’s. Grandma Macdonald lived with them to help out, and was always knitting.

Dad loved poetry, recitations, and could say his abc’s backwards and forwards.

Radio, and Wilf Carter and news of the war

A horseman from age 5, hitching the horse, and ploughing and planting

Walking to and from school “up hill both ways”

Dancing with his sisters at Roly Myer’s dance hall

Surveyor’s assistant age 12
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Lumber drive on the Salmon River at age 16 for his uncle Martin - in a torrent of raging waters cautioned “don’t drop the peevie stick”

Boarded a train to Sudbury from the Monastery at age 17
Boarding houses
INCO worked first in the smelter- age 17
Boxer
Broomball
Shuffle board
INCO Frood nickel mine underground age 18- worked for 17 years, working his way to become a shift boss and mine rescue captain

An encounter with some people who he watched live out their Christian lives with compassion and generousity and the decision that he wanted what they had and he came to know God as his Lord and Saviour and friend.

A blind date, and a love affair that continued for over 70 years. A truly Dynamic duo: he the creative, never stand still member and Ruth the partner and administrator.

Newlyweds first apartment Barlow Street , Colleen arrived, then to Regent Street apartment and Dan’s birth, then upstairs at Fawcett’s in Wanup, and Grant was born and then in 1960 to a brand new home , 1361 Southview Drive and the arrival of Cindy.

Camping at Grundy
Travel trailer rental business
Family hunting adventures -yes the whole family :)
Road trips to Nova Scotia

A move to Whitby in 1965 and a home on Dundas Street
Sullivan Real Estate- owner and broker
Three week family road trip to California - Disneyland, restaurants, hotels :)
Colour TV to watch first man on the moon
Pet coffins
Mini-Stor-It - Whitby’s first secured self serve storage facility
Shop-vac attach invented and patented

Down on a feather, airplane rides, beating water with forks, jumping through a broom stick, lifting chair using the chair leg, Jigs, Johnnie Bedore, rook, Skip Bo, checkers, fox and geese, crokonile, riddles

Hunting
Prospecting
Dynamite fixes everything
Snow prince snowmobile
Go karts
Cross cut saw contests
Twinkle in his eye
Loved hats
Outstretched hand to greet
Handkerchiefs
Green khakis
Wallet full of cash and pocketful of change
Moose calls
Target practice on juice cans
Swimming with Wilma the whale
Portable saw mill
Pheasants
Bunnies
Landlord
Friend
Renovator
Farmer
Grandpa George
Table top jigs
Prankster
Magician - eggs pulled out of his ear etc.

Horton’s Cove - construction of their new home for their retirement after selling Mini-Stor-It, and a beautiful barn for his team of Canadian horses -Chief and Bill

Collector - all things related to horse drawn equipment, wagons, sleighs;

5th wheel trailer - Alaska - Florida
Always needed dessert - old dry biscuit would do
How he cooked for Mother’s Day - ordered Kentucky fried chicken
Ketchup “bear tracks”
Bear hunting from tree fort
Horse and wagon rides
Driving lessons
Tire swing
A plan to build a vertical log home -“before he got old”
Mother Webb’s
Arby’s
Dairy Queen
Sullivan Marsh - Ducks Unlimited

The best way to remember George would be “always remembering to be kind, the person might just be down on their luck”.

Donations in his memory to any of the following charities would be appreciated:

Capital City Mission, Ottawa
Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (Tribal Trails TV)
Shareword Global Canada(formerly The Gideons International in Canada )
The Refuge, Oshawa