Fay S. Sullivan, 85
Fay Sullivan, 85, of Helena and Rollins, passed away Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007, at her daughter's home, in Helena, surrounded by her family. Fay was born the youngest of seven children on Sept. 26, 1921, to John L. and Emma I. Swanson at the family homestead in Wallace County, Kan.
Fay grew up on the Kansas prairie. Fay graduated from high school in Sharon Springs, Kan. in 1939, and later attended St. Margaret's School of Nursing in Kansas City. It was there Fay met her husband, John M. "Jack" Sullivan, a career military man who was training new WWII recruits at Ft. Reilly. They were married Aug. 30, 1944 in Richmond Hill, N.Y. Fay and Jack had four children; Judy, Mike, Patty and Mary.
While in the Army, the family traveled across the world from New York to Kentucky, then Michigan, Rhode Island, the Philippine Islands, Virginia, and settled in Helena. Fay's family was most important to her. She was a loving wife and mother.
Fay eventually returned to nursing and retired from St. Peter's Hospital in the mid '70s. After Jack's death in 1981, Fay moved to their home on Flathead Lake where they had spent many wonderful summers. During the last several years, Fay spent winters with her daughter, Mary in New Mexico, and continued to visit her children, family and friends.
Fay was preceded in death by her husband Jack; brothers, Arthur, Gerald and Wallace Swanson; sister, Caroline Bunn; daughter, Judy Laroux and grandsons, TJ Davidson and Sean Murray.
Survivors include two sisters, Irma Walker of Sharon Springs, Kan. and Willa McAllister of Eugene, Ore.; children, Mike & Linda Sullivan of Sacramento, Calif., Patty and Gordon Davidson of Helena, Mary and Dan Murray of Las Vegas; son-in-law, Bill Laroux of Kalispell; grandchildren, Tanya & Jim Kelly, Michael B., Robin and Courtney Sullivan, Brian Davidson, Kayla, Sasha, and Briane Murray, DJ and Mandie Murray, Ryan and Jason Laroux; great-grandchildren, Amber Kelly, Connor and Paige Davidson, Starla, Devon and Brendan Murray and many nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Fay's life will take place at 11 am on Monday, Jan. 15 at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church with a luncheon to follow. Fay will be buried with her husband at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington D.C. Memorials in Fay's name are suggested to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, Montana Affiliate, 825 Helena Avenue, Helena, Montana 59601 or to the DAV at P.O. Box 189, Fort Harrison, Montana 59636. Cremation and service arrangements are under the direction of Retz Funeral Home, Helena.