Augustus Sullivan

Our Beloved Husband, Father, Brother, Grandfather, Uncle and Friend pass away peacefully in his Heavenly Father's arms. He was well taken care of at Memorial Hospital for his cancer which finally took his life. He was visited and comforted by family members and friends. LaVerne was 75 years old.

Born to Travis Ivan Sullivan, 1912-1990 and Lucy Velta Sullivan, 1912-1987 of Arkansas, Grandparents: John Henry Sullivan 1887-1966 and Ethel Jane (Jean) Sullivan 1887-1934, James Aldine Mcleod 1886-1955 and Maggie Lee McLeod 1892-1943 We called him LaVerne or Vern. He was born in the town of Tulare, California. He was the fifth child of Travis and Lucy Sullivan. He was named after his Mother's brother Cletus Laverne Sullivan, (1921-1990). LaVerne's parents were among the "Dust Bowlers" or " Southwesterners" migrants who came to California, similar to John Steinbeck's novel "Grapes of Wrath." LaVerne's brother Ivan said after their brother Alonzo Herschel Sullivan was born in Union, Illinois on 01-13-1939 the family drove to Arkansas in a Model A Ford and Trailer to pick up their Father's Dad, John Henry Sullivan, and some Aunts and Uncles, then made their way to California. It took Approximately 20 months to reach California. Along the way, Aunt Lena Sullivan got married in Arizona and the family stayed in Arizona a while and worked, picked cotton or any other crop. The family reached Tulare, California in 1941 during the great depression and when the United States got involved in WW2. One hour after leaving the hospital from Laverne's birth, the house burned to the ground. Ivan said Jean their Uncle who was their age was shooting kitchen matches in a BeeBee gun inside the house and the walls were made of cardboard and the matches would strike and light and caused the house to burn. They moved to Church Camp on Weedpatch Highway, then moved to Red and Green camp on Edison Highway and lived in a cabin where there was a room in the front of house and a kitchen, and also lived in a tent for awhile along a canal bank. The family moved often to work and pick cotton, apricots, or peaches. The Sullivans were straightforward, resourceful people who stubbornly persevere, somehow keeping hope alive in the face of challenges far more harrowing than those faced the "Average American."

LaVerne loved animals and had several dogs, as a boy he had a dog by the name of "pepper". He graduated from the eight grade. Laverne was very close to his brothers and sisters and loved them very much: oldest Sadie Mae (Sullivan) Lovejoy, Ivan Lee Sullivan, Pansy Gail (Sullivan) Turner, Alonzo Herschel (Lonnie) Sullivan, Zona Daphine (Sullivan) Sullivan.

LaVerne was especially close to his brother Lonnie, maybe because they were only 20 months apart. They married Sisters: Carol and JoEvelyn Payne. They lived close to each other through out their lives; both die of cancer only 11 days of each other.

LaVerne enjoyed taking pictures of his family and especially his Grandson Samuel Sullivan of Sacramento, California and getting together with his family to play cards and dominos. He also enjoyed NFL football and was very competitive when betting with his brothers, Lonnie and Ivan. He would strategize and learn as much as he could about the teams. LaVerne worked as a machinist in the potato sheds in Edison. He was married to his wife Carol Sullivan for over 4 decades. When LaVerne was a small boy, he went to the Baptist church in Red and Green camp with his Mother and brothers and sisters. Laverne enjoyed honky-tonk music such as Merle Haggard and Buck Owens.

LaVerne is survived by his son Frank Sullivan, Frank's Mother-Kathleen Wycuff, BD: 06-11-1939 and Grandson Samuel Sullivan.

His daughter Laurie May Yarbrough 06-22-1965-04-28-2010 and her mother JoAnn Werhan and his two granddaughters Jessica and Krystal Prine LaVerne was preceded in death by his parents Travis and Lucy Sullivan, wife Carol Sullivan, Brother Alonzo Herschel Sullivan (01-13-1939 -03-12-2016), Daughter Laurie, nephew Larry Wayne Turner, sister- in- law Geri (Cabral) Sullivan 11-11-1936 to 08-31-2014 The family would like to especially thank LaVerne's neighbor, LeAnne, JoEvelyn sister-in-law, Rick JoEvelyn's son for all their help to LaVerne Funeral Services were conducted by Basham Funeral Care Chapel on March 31, 2016 and he was buried at Hillcrest Mortuary close to his beloved wife Carol and parents.

THE SULLIVANS ARE PROUD "ARKIs" FROM ARKANSAS AND THEIR POSTERITY IS PROUD OF THEIR HERITAGE!