Connie Sullivan

All who knew Connie Sullivan would agree that there was no one who met her and left unchanged. She was kindhearted, compassionate, and eager to bless others in ways both great and small. A loving wife and devoted mother, Connie had been called the glue that held her family together, and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for her loved ones. Life was not without times of trial for her, but she faced whatever came her way with a strength and a graceful courage that were truly inspiring. Life will never be the same without Connie here, but she leaves behind a priceless collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold near and dear to their hearts.

It seems only fitting that Connie’s journey began during a time that was as colorful as she was. It was the 1950s when James Dean and Marilyn Monroe dominated the silver screen while Elvis Presley took the music world by storm. This was the decade when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on an Alabama bus, bringing civil rights to the forefront of the national issues we faced. Amidst this colorful time was the year 1954 when Ichabud “Nick” and Betty (Wilks) Goff were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as the beauty of spring unfolded in Gaylord, Michigan. The big day finally arrived on May 8th when the baby girl they named Connie Jean drew her first breath. It was an unforgettable day as her father dropped his laboring wife off at the door of Gaylord Memorial Hospital (now known as Otsego Memorial Hospital), only to be told that he was the proud father of a baby girl by the time he returned from parking the car!

Connie was the younger of two Goff children as she was raised in the family home in the small town of Vanderbilt North of Gaylord alongside her older brother, Dennis. Her father worked as a carpenter while her mother focused her time and attention at home.She was a student at local schools until the 10th grade, and she later went back and earned her GED. After her parents divorced, Connie’s mother brought her half-brother, Jules, into her life. For a short time she was married to a man named Arnie Higley. Although they later divorced, she was forever grateful for their children, Sarah and Chadwick “Chad.” In the mid-seventies, Connie moved to Battle Creek.

New and exciting changes were in store for Connie when she met Frank Sullivan at the VFW in Battle Creek in 1982. The VFW had bands on the weekends and they both went there for some fun, and life was never the same for Connie once they met. After dating and falling in love, Connie and Frank were married on March 30, 1983. To their marriage Frank brought his son, Joel, and together Connie and her husband raised their children, Cathy and Chelsea. In addition, Connie touched the lives of hundreds of children through her loving touch as a foster mother for 10 years. She was a fantastic cook who was known for her Spanish rice, chicken and noodle, goulash, and pasties that were similar to the way her mother made them. Later on, Connie was thrilled when her family grew to include seven grandchildren, and she looked forward to family gatherings for any occasion as she just loved having her family all together. Connie was a huge animal lover. She was known for putting pans of food outside her home to feed the animals.

Throughout her life Connie fully embraced every day she was given. She loved doing a bit of traveling with spending time in Gaylord and Petoskey as well as out West in Colorado being some of her favorite places to see. Connie was a fan of classic country western, and she loved Helen Reddy. Although she battled fibromyalgia since 1993, she did her best to maintain the lifestyle she loved.

With a life that spanned times of great change in the world around her, Connie Sullivan was a blessing to everyone she met. She could be sarcastic at times and was tough as nails, but she had a heart that was as big as they come. Connie was never one to worry about the things of this world, rather, her focus was on helping everyone in any way she could. Deeply loved, she will be forever missed.

Connie J. Sullivan, of Portage passed away on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Connie is survived by her husband, Frank; children: Sarah Higley, of Vicksburg and Chadwick Higley, of Portage; Cathy Sullivan, of Portage; Chelsea Sullivan, of Portage; Joel (Jeanette) Sullivan, of Sylvania, OH, and 15 grandchildren; as well as hundreds of foster children she cared for over the years. She is also survived by her father, Nick Goff; brother, Jules (Lisa) Walters, of Battle Creek; and several nieces and nephews. Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Betty Walters; brother, Dennis Goff; and sister-in-law, Becky Goff. A memorial service will be held on Friday, January 6, 2017, at 1 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg, MI (269-649-1697). The family will receive friends on Friday starting at 12 p.m. until 1 p.m. Please visit Connie’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guestbook and share a memory and/or photo. Those who wish may make contributions to the West Michigan Cancer Center and/or Kalamazoo County Humane Society.