Florence Katherine Sullivan

Florence Katherine (Collins) Sullivan died peacefully Oct. 6, 2015, surrounded by her family in the Kansas City Hospice after a short period of illness. Florence was born in Hamilton, Montana on Jan. 1, 1934. Five of her eight siblings survive, Helen Zimmerman, Peggy Sullivan, Mary Ellen Pruitt, John (Karyn) Collins and William (Peggy) Collins. She attended the Nursing School of Carrol College in Helena, Montana and graduated as an RN in 1954. She married Larry Sullivan in 1955. The family moved to the Kansas City area in 1961. Florence and Larry joined the Tallgrass Retirement Community in Overland Park in 2011. Florence worked at the Providence-St. Margaret Hospital until she retired in 1999.

Florence gave birth to three children: Paul, Timothy (Kathryn Nichols) and Ann (Gary) Packingham. Their marriages resulted in 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. She and Larry celebrated their 60 yrs of marriage last August.

Florence was greatly loved by all members of her family. Her bright, blue eyes and loving smile garnered her many friends. She was a true Montanan and always loved to return to her home area, the Bitterroot Valley in Western Montana. A family tradition was forged in family campouts on the west fork of the Bitterroot River and we seldom missed one. Our children and those of her siblings learned to fish on that stream and, while the number of trout caught in our stories, exceeded those that were ate at supper, the difference was small. Nights by the campfire were filled with song. The little ones fell asleep to the ‘music' and the older kids snickered at the vocal ability of their fathers and uncles. When our grandchildren were in their teens, we always took two of them with us on this annual trip to the beauties of Montana.

A memorial service will commence at 2:00 p.m. at the Amos Family Funeral Home on Tuesday, Oct. 13. The funeral home is located in Shawnee at 10901 Johnson Drive (two blocks east of Nieman). It will be followed by a reception at Rene' Kelly's Harvest at 12401 Johnson Drive (southwest corner of Caenen and Johnson Drive).

In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to Shawnee Community Services, to the Kansas City Hospice or to a charity of the donor's choice.