Lillie Rhoade Sullivan

PLYMOUTH – Lillie Mae Harness Rhoade Sullivan, age 82, of Plymouth, went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Aug. 17, 2002. She had been a patient at Miller’s Merry Manor in Plymouth after a brief illness. She was born in Starke County on Feb. 14, 1920, the “valentine daughter” of the late Sylvester Bert and Laura Pearl (Stutsman) Harness. Lillie was the valedictorian of the Grovertown High School Class of 1939. She married Donald (Tom) Eugene Rhoade on Nov. 25, 1944, at Pretty Lake; he preceded her in death in 1955. She married Ronald (Rocky) Lee Sullivan on Dec. 5, 1959, in the Inwood Methodist Church; he preceded her in death in 1987. She worked several years as a cashier at Merriman’s Grocery Store in Plymouth; after her marriage to Ronald Sullivan, she became a full-time homemaker and business farm manager. “Lil” was a member of the Inwood United Methodist Church and a former member of the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association Auxiliary. She was an active leader in the Camp Fire Girls’ program of Plymouth and actively involved at Epworth Forest Church Camp earlier in her life. She was also an enthusiastic member of several bowling leagues for many years. She spent the past several winters in Avon Park, Fla., enjoying the warm weather and group activities. Lil enjoyed traveling, Dr. Robert Schuller, Bob Barker, gardening, catfish and chicken wings, sewing and was an AVID sports fan–Scott Skiles was her hero! She is survived by one daughter, Janet Rhoade of Colon, Mich.; one sister, Ruby (Miller) Pendell of Ravenna, Mich.; three sisters-in-law, Venus Lindsey of Argos, Lovette Roahrig of Inwood and Margery Rhoade of Plymouth; three brothers-in-law, Dale Sullivan of Monticello, Robert Sullivan of Fair Oaks, Calif., and Russell Pletcher of South Bend; several nieces and nephews; special friends Alta Shively of Inwood and Edna Elliott of Plymouth, and “the best neighbors you could ever hope for.” Lil was preceded in death by four brothers: Woodrow (Pat), William, Frank and Lawrence and two sisters, Omega Dettmer and Hazel (Kuchel) Davis. Visitation will be held at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2002. Funeral services celebrating the life of Lillie Rhoade Sullivan will be held in the funeral home at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 26, 2002. There will be visitation two hours prior to the service. Pastor Michael Dixon will officiate. Interment will take place in Bremen. If desired, memorials may be made to the Inwood United Methodist Church, 11211 Hawthorn Road, Plymouth, 46563, or to the Salvation Army. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.