Dorothy May Sullivan

Dorothy May Sullivan, daughter of Beatrice and Robert E. Sullivan, was born in Houston, Texas, on January 13, 1923. She graduated from Lamar High School and Sam Houston State Teachers College where she majored in Home Economics with a minor in Science. After graduation she went to work for the J.S. Abercrombie Steel Company as a chemist. Later she became office manager for the R. E. Sullivan Construction Company. Dorothy was very active in the Houston Business and Professional Women’s Club, where she served as president four different times. She also served as chair of several state committees. One of her favorite projects, which she continued on her own until recently, was to prepare Christmas boxes for sailors on ships in the Houston Ship Channel over the holidays. She worked through the Houston International Seafarers Union.

Dorothy travelled widely, visiting such countries as Finland, Chile, Mexico, Japan, and Europe. One memorable adventure was when she was able to go up in the Goodyear blimp. She had a special relationship with her niece, Mary Kristine Sullivan Lopez who spent the first two years of her life living with Dorothy and her grandparents. She made dolls representing different countries for her. Other survivors include sisters Helen Sullivan Davis of Virginia, Jeannette Sullivan Speights of Houston, and Nancy Sullivan Perry of Maine and Florida, and a brother Thomas Sullivan of Lindale. Another brother, Dr. Robert E. Sullivan Jr. of Texas City predeceased her. Besides niece Mary Lopez of North Carolina, she is survived by nieces Mary Hoffman of Oregon, Jeannette Davis Pyle of Virginia, Nancy Davis, Martha Davis and Sarah Davis, all of California, Paula Perry of Idaho, and Pamela Perry of California. Surviving nephews include Robert E. Sullivan III of Virginia, Mark Sullivan of Houston, Randall Sullivan of Oregon, Phil Perry Jr. of New York, Patrick Perry of Massachusetts, Thomas Sullivan of Texas, and William Robert Sullivan of California.