Obituary of Sheryl Christine Sullivan

Sheryl Christine Sullivan (65) passed away April 19, 2015 at her home in Fernwood after a battle with cancer. She was born in Raleigh, NC on March 23, 1950 to Samuel and Phyllis Mills. In 1956 the family moved to Peanutville which was a little town located between Santa and Fernwood Idaho. She attended school in Fernwood and graduated from St. Maries High School in 1969. Following graduation, Sheryl married Charles Lee Rich. They lived in Fernwood, but traveled a lot because her husband’s job as a lineman took him many places to work and the family went along with him. Sheryl and Lee had two children, Carlena and Monty. She was a stay at home mother to raise her children. They were later divorced, and after her divorce to Lee, Sheryl went to work at the mill in Fernwood. Sheryl met George Dean and they married at the hitching Post in Coeur d’ Alene in 1974. In 1978, her daughter Opal was born. In her marriage to George, she gained 4 other children. She went to work at The Fernwood Mercantile where she worked for 26 years. In 1989 Sheryl and George were divorced. She was an EMT for Upriver, was a member of the Upriver Water Board, helped implement the plans of the CAF building, and was involved in planning many Fernwood Day celebrations. She started dating Cleve Sullivan in 1990 and they fell very much in love. They loved to travel and at times would tell their family that they were going for a drive and would call from other states they traveled to or concerts they would attend while out for their drive. They married on January 5, 2000 in Elko, NV. In 2004 Sheryl went to work for Archie’s IGA where she worked for 4 years. Following her employment with IGA, she worked at Valley Vista Care Center for 6 years before retiring. She worked in the behavioral unit as a housekeeper where she loved her job, co-workers, and all the residents at Valley Vista. In her retirement she enjoyed gardening, her flower beds, wood working, and all the many drives her and her husband Cleve would take. Sheryl is survived by her husband Cleve Sullivan at the family home in Fernwood, ID; sons Greg and Alaina Dean from Billings, MT; Tim Dean of Lewiston, ID; Marvin Dean of McCall, ID; Monty Rich of St. Maries, ID; Duane and Karla Sullivan of Hayden, ID; Darin and Karin Sullivan of Fernwood, ID; daughters Geneva Smith of Lewiston, ID; Debby and Keith Powell of Fernwood, ID; Dawn Marie and Bernie Weber of Fernwood, ID; Carlena and Jake Hjaltalin of St. Maries, ID; Opal and Justin Derbyshire of Rathdrum, ID; brothers Don and Francie Mills of Fernwood, ID; Harvey Mills of St. Maries, ID; Wade Mills of Fernwood, ID; Peggy Spray and Hank Lewis of Fernwood, ID; and Lynda Mitchell of Fernwood, ID. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents Samuel and Phyllis Mills and her infant sister Betty Jo Mills. A Memorial Service is planned for Saturday April 25, 2015 11:00 am at the St. Maries Eagles Lodge. A potluck gathering of family and friends will be following at the CAF Building in Fernwood. Please visit her online memorial and sign her guestbook at www.hodgefuneralhome.com