Marlene Bernice Sullivan

Marlene Bernice Sullivan, age 94, of Clever, Missouri passed peacefully in her sleep on Monday, September 29, 2025 due to a long decline in her health.

Marlene was born July 28, 1931, at home close to the streetcar barn in Kansas City, Missouri to James and Bernice Sullivan, and was an only child. There, she made her life as a city girl but loved visiting her grandparents and cousins in Clever where her father grew up.

Marlene excelled in academics. She tested out of third grade and graduated at the age of 16 from Paseo High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1948 in the top 10% of her class. She was an impressive swimmer, loved to do water ballet, and spent hours in the pool at Swope Park. She also loved to play tennis along with softball with the neighborhood boys out in the street for enjoyment. As a little girl she tap danced for several years. She could also tumble. It would be nothing for her to do backflips across the yard.

Once Marlene graduated, she went to work at Fitts Dry Goods as a secretary. A few years later she found herself as the lead secretary to one of the supervisors in the Federal Probation Office in Kansas City. She performed under a lot of pressure - taking shorthand for court cases and typing on a manual typewriter. She was a master. Her hands flew across the keyboard smooth as butter! She would always use her shorthand skills to write Christmas lists and such - as no one knew how to read it.

In 1960, she married her first husband, John. In 1963, she had her only child, Karen, in Portsmouth, Virginia. In 1965, Marlene decided it was time to be a country girl and moved to Clever where she used to visit as a child. For 60 years she made her home in her grandfather's house he had built back in 1915. She was a single parent, with the help of her mother and together they raised Karen.

In 1966, Marlene went to work at James B. Nutter Real Estate Co. again doing administrative work and it was there that she met the love of her life, Mark, he was her boss. Through the years Marlene learned how to take care of cattle, chickens, sheep, and would drive the old rock truck while he and Karen picked up rock in the field. They dated from 1966, got engaged in 1976, and finally married in 2000. Marlene went through two engagement rings. When they went to get their license, the preacher remarked that it wasn’t some shotgun wedding knowing how long they waited. They never lived together in all those years, but they were in sense a family. All three loved each other dearly. Together they started their own business called Land and Home Company and lastly Prime Mortgage Company - where in both jobs Marlene was the Chief Loan Officer/Owner. They never advertised; all their business was word of mouth - the best advertisement.

Marlene loved working outside and planting flowers. She was an amazing cook and a creative and beautiful seamstress. She could literally sew anything without a pattern. She created so many clothes for Karen throughout her years, along with sweet little keepsakes for the holidays. She spent many hours into the night sewing with all the love she had attached. She also loved to help Karen get ready for her classroom. She would work so hard drawing, cutting - and anything that was needed of her! She was simply the best!!!

Marlene loved to travel, go horseback riding, shopping and play board games. Sometimes we think she cheated. Above all, she held a wealth of wisdom, was smart as a tack with a splash of wit, always had a good sense of humor, and very rarely complained. If anything tasted bad from Karen’s cooking, she would always have a compliment about it - even if tasted awful! Another such memory took place while on a cruise. She was told to stay at a certain place until Karen came back to get her. Do you think she listened? Nope! She decided to go exploring around the ship. Unfortunately, she got turned around and ended up at the other end of the ship and her family couldn’t find her anywhere!! So, they were getting ready to send out the Ship Security which didn’t take things lightly. Thankfully, she was found at the other end of the ship before sending out the troops - sound asleep in her wheelchair by the elevator. When asked why she had left, she said she was on vacation, and she knew we would eventually find her.

Marlene definitely was a Leo - a leader in her own right. She loved her family deeply, was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and friend to all no matter what age. It is her gracious and generous heart that will forever be remembered along with her fun, ornery self. Marlene was baptized two different times by Rev. Billy Graham when she went to see his revivals. Karen asked why twice, and she exclaimed that she wanted to make sure it took.

In February 2002 Marlene’s life made a drastic turn. She was in a horrendous car accident just up the road from her driveway by a hit and run. She battled her way through life and death for three months, and in that time sadly she never regained her ability to walk. Over the years she was such a trooper and tried so hard to be independent. She cared for Rylee, her granddaughter, for the first three years of her life. She was living the best life because now she had a grandbaby that hung the moon! She also had her best furry friend Buddy. She loved him as he gave her so much company!

Through the years she was always such a joyful woman until her health started fading. Karen and Gene lovingly took care of all her needs and eventually Marlene moved in with them. She didn’t want to, as she did not want to be any problem and she never ever was! For 23 years loving care was given and literally this time was a gift that God gave them, especially with Karen who was her soul caregiver.

Many days they watched TV together and of course had to watch Matlock. Marlene would always say, “He’s my boyfriend”, or every morning when asked if she was hungry, she would reply… "I’m hungry as a bear and mean as one too." Karen always gave her a hug and said, “oh yes, you’re so mean!” That extra time brought them even closer and was literally a priceless gift!

The last four to five years Marlene was starting to struggle more and the Cox Hospice team stepped in. Each and every one of the team members that touched Marlene and Karen’s life left such a special imprint and impact on their heart. We will forever be grateful for their time, the kindness they shared, and friendship that will last on. Thank you is just a small word of appreciation, but truly they were Earth Angels that helped in so many ways.

Marlene is preceded in death by her father and mother James and Bernice Sullivan, and husband Mark Morris.

Marlene is survived by her daughter Karen (Sullivan) Campbell, son-in-law Gene Campbell, grand-daughter, Rylee Campbell, all of Clever along with a host of family and friends near and far.

There truly are no words to fully describe Marlene. She was a beautiful light to see with a genuine smile and never took anything for granted. She was true to herself, was a quiet nature, but so fun! She was hard working, kind, empathetic, selfless, classy lady. She was Karen's first and forever friend and confidant. Karen was so proud to say, “she’s my mom and I love her with all my heart!” She will be so very missed by our family every minute of every day!

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025, at Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Clever, under the direction of Adams Funeral Home, Nixa, with Chaplain Michael Daughrity officiating.