Mary Sullivan

Mary Cookson Sullivan

January 3, 1913 – February 1, 2012

Mary Elizabeth Cookson Sullivan, 99, of North Webster, Indiana, died on February 1, 2012 at 7:45 a.m. at Grace Village Retirement Community, Winona Lake, Indiana.

Mary was born, January 3, 1913 to Joseph Edward and Bess Miller Cookson in Anderson, Indiana. She grew up on the near north side of Chicago. After high school graduation from Ferry Hall in Lake Forest, Illinois, she attended Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Virginia.

In the summer, her family would travel from Chicago to Sechrist Lake, Indiana and stay in the Sullivan cottages. This is where she met her husband Rudyard Kipling Sullivan. They were married in 1932 and lived in Orange, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; and South Bend, Indiana before returning to the Sechrist Lake area to eventually create the Sullivan Park development of homes at Sechrist Lake. Mary and Kip had four children, Judith Marie, Timothy Kip, Jill Elizabeth, and Daniel Joseph.

Mary 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.” Mary 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 though out the Midwest. After retirement, Mary spent winters in Indian Lake Estates, Florida where she continued to enjoy golf and her painting.   Since 1947, Mary has been a member of the North Webster United Methodist Church.

Mary is survived by son, Dan Sullivan and wife Susan Weddle Sullivan of Austin, Texas; daughter Jill Sullivan Lesh and husband Dick Lesh of Bloomington, Indiana; grandson Matt Sullivan and wife Sharon Bird Sullivan, great-grandsons Jack Sullivan and Kip Sullivan of Charlotte, North Carolina; granddaughter Ashley Sullivan Dewing and husband Abe Dewing, great-grandson Kyle Dewing of Newton, Massachusetts; grandson Blake Sullivan and great-granddaughter Kaitlyn of Boulder, Colorado; grandson Mark Lesh and wife Emily Templin Lesh of Denver, Colorado, great-grandson Emmett Lesh of Denver, Colorado; grandson Douglas Lesh and wife Korin Gibson Lesh, great-granddaughter Kira Lesh of  Darwin, Australia.

She is preceded in death by her husband Kip and her sister Jeanne Cookson Cougill.

The family thanks Mary’s friends and the staff at Grace Village for their love and care.

Visitation will be from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6, 2012 at Owen Family Funeral Home, St. Rd. 13 & C.R. 500N, North Webster, IN 46555.

Services will be held at the North Webster United Methodist Church, 7822 East Epworth Forest Road, North Webster, Indiana on Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 11:00 AM. Reverend David Smitley will conduct the services. Burial will follow at the North Webster Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Mary Sullivan can be made to:

North Webster Community Center

301 North Main Street

North Webster, Indiana 46555

574-834-1600

or the charity of the donor's choice.