NORTH WEBSTER – Mary Elizabeth Cookson Sullivan, 99, of North Webster, died at 7:45 a.m. Feb. 1, 2012, in Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake.
She was born Jan. 3, 1913, in Anderson, to Joseph Edward and Bess Miller Cookson. In 1932, she married Rudyard Kipling Sullivan, who preceded her in death.
She grew up on the near north side of Chicago. After high school graduation from Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., she attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va.
In the summer, her family would travel from Chicago to Sechrist Lake and stay in the Sullivan cottages. This is where she met her husband. They lived in Orange, N.J.; Chicago, Ill.; and South Bend before returning to the Sechrist Lake area to eventually create the Sullivan Park development of homes at Sechrist Lake. She had four children, Judith Marie, Timothy Kip, Jill Elizabeth and Daniel Joseph.
She was a steadfast supporter of the community and the arts. She was an artist and member of the Lakeland Art Association. She served as president of the Kosciusko County Home Extension Service and enjoyed a 60-year membership in the “Efficient Homemakers Club.” She was instrumental in starting the first community library in North Webster, was an early Mermaid Festival organizer, and was later a Kiwanian. In the 1970s, she worked for Columbia Artists as a community concert representative bringing music performances to communities throughout the Midwest. After retirement, she spent winters in Indian Lake Estates, Fla., where she continued to enjoy golf and her painting. Since 1947, she was a member of North Webster United Methodist Church.
Surviving are a son, Dan Sullivan (and spouse Susan Weddle) Sullivan, Austin, Texas; a daughter, Jill Sullivan (and spouse Dick) Lesh, Bloomington; four grandsons, Matt (and spouse Sharon Bird) Sullivan; Blake Sullivan, Boulder, Colo.; Mark (and spouse Emily Templin) Lesh, Denver, Colo.; and Douglas (and spouse Korin Gibson) Lesh, Darwin, Australia; a granddaughter, Ashley Sullivan (and spouse Abe) Dewing, Newton, Mass.; great-grandsons: Jack and Kip Sullivan, both of of Charlotte, N.C.; Kyle Dewing, Newton, Mass.; and Emmett Lesh, Denver; and two great-granddaughters, Kaitlyn, Boulder, and Kira Lesh, Darwin. She also was preceded in death by a sister, Jeanne Cookson Cougill.
The family thanks Mary’s friends and the staff at Grace Village for their love and care.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at North Webster United Methodist Church, 7822 E. Epworth Forest Road, with the Rev. David Smitley officiating. Burial will be in North Webster Cemetery.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Owen Family Funeral Home, Ind. 13 and CR 500N, North Webster. ***** Memorials may be made to the North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St., North Webster, IN; or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Condolences may be sent via www.owenfamilyfuneralhome.com
