Earl Bruce Sullivan

1929 - 2017

Earl Bruce Sullivan obituary, 1929-2017, Durango, CO

BORN

1929

DIED

2017

Earl Sullivan Obituary

Earl Bruce Sullivan, of Aztec, NM, passed away on September 28, 2016, in the care of family in Tucson AZ. Earl was born on April 19, 1929 in Denver CO and at a young age was adopted by Bruce and Marguerite Sullivan of Durango CO. He was raised as a cowboy who had a deep love for horses, was highly skilled at roping and ranch management and enjoyed working with people.

Earl spent most of his life in the Four Corners area, living in Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona. He led an eventful life as rancher, rodeo cowboy, race horse trainer, carpenter, trailer park manager, and jack of all trades as his business card once read. Along the way Earl made many friends, each of whom meant a great deal to him. Earl was known for his skill with horses and enjoyment of friends as many stories will reflect.

Earl will be forever remembered as a true cowboy, a man of his word, and the life of the party.

Earl is predeceased by his wife of 25 years, Barbara Louise Sullivan; parents, Bruce Sullivan and Marguerite Frame; and daughters Earleen Blakemore Sullivan and Kelly Harlan Sullivan.

He is survived by daughters, Margi Sullivan and husband Dan Korch of Tucson AZ, Catharine Silva of San Diego CA, Marci and husband Wes Williams also of San Diego; grandchildren R. Danell and husband David Zawaski of Moon PA, Mindy and husband Brian Roman of Pueblo CO, Katarina Ryanne Korch, Ian Alexander Korch, Lorelei Davan Korch, and Monte Arnold; great grandchildren, Evelyn Sullivan Zawaski, Jacklyn Rose Zawaski, Brock Roman, Brandt Roman, Teryn Arnold, and Neena Arnold.

A celebration of Earl's life will be held at Rubio's Mexican Restaurant, 116 S. Main Ave, Aztec NM on June 15, from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Friends are invited to stop in and share memories with family.

Graveside services will be held at Florida Cemetery, 2061 County Road 225, Durango CO on June 16, at 2pm. To send pictures and memories of Earl to his family, please email [email protected].

Published by The Durango Herald on May 30, 2017.
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Memories and Condolences
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3 Entries

Like Bobby Hopper, I have many memories of Earl Sullivan! He gave me many tips on improving my roping skills and tips on tying calves. I use to practice tying calves in Kayenta, AZ at his corral. At a time in my life, I was having difficulty tying calves. I would always try to tie the calves perfect, with the piggin string strands laying perfectly inline. This was slowing me down! Earl reminded me several times, "time is your enemy!" Quit trying to be perfect every time you tie a calf, he'd say! I couldn't seem to get it in my head to quit doing this! One day as I was practicing tying calves with perfection, Earl shocked me with a cattle prod in my side and said, "I told you time is your enemy, quit trying to lay your piggin string strands perfectly every time. Get back down there, hurry up, my grandma moves faster than you! I got scared, moved fast, flipped that calf and tied that calf faster than I ever had before. What a great lesson! In calf roping, time is your enemy! That day, I learned you have to iron out your mistakes as you tied that calf. I never had that problem tying calves from that day forward. Even lead to winning calf roping event in High School and Indian Rodeos. Thanks Earl Sullivan!
With love and respect,
Larry R. Redshirt

Larry Redshirt

June 6, 2017

I met Earl in Kayenta Az in the early 70's and spent the next 10 years looking up to him. He and Carroll Hopper taught me about training horses,cooking sheep on a spit and the finer points of being a cowboy. He was one of the most loyal friends that anyone could ever have.

Greg Gibbs

June 4, 2017

Many many memories of Earl. I almost can't remember him not being a part of my life. I was six or seven years old, and scared to death of the rough talking man, but over the years came to understand where he was coming from, and loved him dearly. Along with my Dad and others, Earl had a big role in shaping me as a man. If you wanted the absolute truth about something, Earl would tell you, in no uncertain terms. I spent many days roping, rodeoing and getting to hang out with him. I worked for him in Kayenta at the trailer park, and helped him move cattle in Hermosa Park. I am saddened by his passing. I will surely miss him.

Bobby Hopper

June 4, 2017

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Memorial Events
for Earl Sullivan

Jun

15

Celebration of Life

1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Rubio's Mexican Restaurant

116 S. Main Ave, Aztec, NM

Jun

16

Graveside service

2:00 p.m.

Florida Cemetery

2061 County Road 225, Durango, CO

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