Mike Sullivan, 87, of Ventura CA passed away on Dec. 22nd, 2020 is his home at the Bonaventure Senior Living Home in Ventura.
Mike was born in Dodge City, Kansas to James and Irma Sullivan on October 21st, 1933.
After graduating high school, he earned his Engineering Degree at New Mexico State University and worked as a Civil Engineer at Port Hueneme until 1989. He served in the Navy for 2 years before going to college. He was a boxer in the Navy, and earned his Commercial Pilot’s License and had his own plane for a time.
Mike grew up on his family’s farm in Kansas, and was always interested in farming, horses, hunting, camping and being outdoors. He enjoyed baseball, basketball and golf, and he loved to travel, and to visit with family and friends in his travels. Mike had an engineer’s mind and a family-centered heart. He was a generous, kind, funny, stubborn Irishman.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
Mike is survived by sister Margaret Schuette of Kansas, and sister Kathleen O’Sullivan of Texas; by his daughters Tammy Reel and Kathy Sullivan of Ventura; his step-daughter Louree Boyd and her husband Prentice Boyd of Oregon; his step-sons David Smithson, John Smithson, and Howard Smithson and his wife Jacque Smithson, all of Ventura.
His grandchildren Timothy Reel, Matthew Reel, and Kaylee Reel of Ventura; his grandchildren Chris Long of Oregon, and Andrew Long of Ventura; his granddaughter Tiffany Herring and her husband Dan of North Carolina; hsi grandson Andrew Boyd of Arizona, and his grandson Daniel Boyd of Oregon. His grandson Sam Smithson of Ventura, and his granddaughter Leah Gainer and her husband Ryan of Ventura, and his granddaughter Trisha Kyte and her husband Sam of Nevada City.
He is survived by his great-grandson Jameson Reel of Ventura; his great-grandchildren Ethan, Josiah, Matthew and Hannah Herring of North Carolina; Jonathan and Tyler Boyd of Arizona; Zachary, Sage and Courtney Smithson of Ventura; Kashmir, Oleander, Achilles and Levee Kyte of Nevada City.
Mike is preceded in death by his beloved wife Barbara L. “Bobbie” Sullivan, the love of his life.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the Sacred Heart Church family, and to all the wonderful friends and family who loved Mike and Bobbie.
Family and friends are invited to visiting hours to be held on Friday January 8, 2021 at the BOYKO & REARDON TELEGRAPH ROAD MORTUARY & CREMATION, 15 Teloma Drive Ventura. A Most Holy Rosary will be recited at 10:30am Saturday January 9, 2021 in Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, 10800 Henderson Road Ventura. Interment with Military Honors will then immediately follow in Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, Ventura.