John Riley Sullivan

My childhood best friend´s brother. He was such a pest to Patty and me. But he grew up and was a very kind person. I loved that Johnny.

John approached me the day I had visited my parents' church in Cassville. They had prayed for me since I had just been diagnosed with a rare breast cancer and was approaching options. During that prayer, he told the congregation and myself he, too, had just been diagnosed with the "C". From then on, everytime we would see each other in church (when I would visit my parents - we live in KC) we would catch each other up on our progress and how we were feeling. He was extremely positive and chipper. I remember the day our cancer stories came out in the church together, he gave me a hug and said he would pray for me and that I wasn't alone and that God was always there and now since we both had it, we had a cancer buddy. There was so much comfort in the that statement, more than he will ever know. I told my husband on our way to KC that day, that he stepped outside of his own battle, to pray for me in mine, and so we prayed for his journey as well. The last time we saw each other, we were both in remission and both smiles! I'm truly saddened to hear that he passed on, but I do know he went straight to the Lord. His borrowed time here on Earth is over. But he never once lost his battle, as cancer can take a lot of things, but it never took his spirit, his grace, his generosity, and now he sits with Jesus. That is no loss. The loss is ours! He will be greatly missed and forever remembered.

To his family, friends, and congregation - You are in our thoughts and prayers!

Thanks for being there,
Rebecca McLaughlin
Steve and Bonnie Ray's daughter

So sorry for your loss!