Eugene Leon "Cowboy" Sullivan

1925 - 2008

Eugene Leon “Cowboy” Sullivan, 83, of North 10th Street, passed away Monday, Dec. 1, 2008, at Covenant Medical Center. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at Denton-Wood Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008, at Sunset Church of Christ with Brian McGonagill officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Gardens Memorial Park, Carlsbad, N.M. Carlsbad Veterans’ Honor Guard will provide military honors. A meal will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Church of Christ, where anyone wishing to meet with the family is invited. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Eugene “Cowboy” Sullivan was born on April 30, 1925, in Petersburg, Texas, to Mack and Ilda Sullivan. In September 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Army. After basic training and serving as a swimming instructor, he was sent to the South Pacific Theatre and was wounded, multiple times, on the Island of Okinawa. After a lengthy recovery, he was discharged at Fort Bliss, Texas, in February of 1946. While serving, he was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon, Purple Heart Medal and the Victory Medal. After his discharge, he traveled to Carlsbad to visit family members and in early 1947, got a job at International Minerals and Chemical Corporation (IMCC). He met Lona L. Buck on a blind date and four months later they were married in January 1949. He worked at IMCC until 1964, and then moved to Montezuma Creek, Utah, where he worked as a truck driver. In 1965, he returned to Carlsbad and returned to work at IMCC. In 1966, he went to work at Southwest Potash (later AMAX) mine and retired in 1990 as an electrician. He began his 43 years of service in the mines as a laborer and through his desire to learn and apply his education, he finished his career as an electrician. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ his entire life. He attended the Hillcrest Church of Christ, the Southside Church of Christ and the Sunset Church of Christ. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the DAV Chapter 13, a life member of VFW No. 3277 and a member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 773. He was a life-long avid fisherman, hunter and participated in shooting competitions as a young man. He also had a love for teaching youth about the outdoors and shooting. He coached little league baseball. He was an avid football fan and really enjoyed watching just about any football game on TV. The greatest joy in his later life was working with his hands, building and fixing anything he could get his hands on. He truly was the embodiment of honesty, integrity and hard work. He was a dedicated dad, grandpa and great-grandfather. He loved and enjoyed his children and spoiling his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mack and Ilda Sullivan; brother, James Sullivan; brother, Don Sullivan; sister, Mildred Shoemaker; two sisters who passed away as infants; and son, Leon Sullivan. The family would like to acknowledge the loving care and thoughtfulness of Patty Sue and Dale Gersema, Dorothy Criswell, Dee Criswell, Leann Schwartz, Debbie Parsons and Terry and Marilyn Stade. Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Lona; sons: Bobby Sullivan and wife, Marilyn of Carlsbad, and Roy Sullivan and wife, Caren of Beaumont, Texas; daugher-in-law, Jackie Sullivan, wife of the late Leon Sullivan, of Alamogordo; brother, Perry Sullivan and wife, Elaine of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren: Lisa and husband, David Hufstedler, Meagan and husband, Brian Berry, Becky and husband, Robert French, Susan and husband, David Lao, Patricia and husband, James Hazel, John Sullivan, Barbara Sullivan and Austin Sullivan; and four great-grandchildren. Pallbearers will be John Sullivan, David Hufstedler, Brian Berry, David Lao, Roy Chapler and Dewey Edmiston. Honorary pallbearers are Terry Stade, Robert Stade, Robert French, James Hazel and Perry Sullivan. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Mountainview Christian Camp, c/o Sunset Church of Christ, 1308 W. Blodgett St., Carlsbad, NM 88220.