Coleen Wilma Sullivan, age 85, of Springfield, Missouri, passed away on April 6, 2024, at Maranatha Village.  Coleen was born to Coleman Dodson and Wilma Dodson on August 26, 1938, in Phillipsburg, MO. She was the first born, with a sister Judy Dodson Kirkpatrick following several years later.  

Her early years were spent in Phillipsburg, MO, and then later in Morrisville, MO. She was a proud graduate of Morrisville High School, where she played the saxophone in the band and was a majorette.  As a young woman Coleen worked as a switchboard telephone operator in Morrisville.  Before graduating high school, she met the love of her life, Jim Sullivan, on a blind date. Jim loved to tease her, that upon seeing the three girls standing on the porch, he said, “I’ll take the tall one!”  Not long after, she and Jim were married in Morrisville, MO, on May 26, 1956. Together they had two children: Brad Sullivan and Greg Sullivan.  

Coleen and Jim raised their family in Springfield, MO. Coleen spent those early years of her adult life dedicated to raising her two boys as a homemaker.  After the boys were grown and gone, she babysat for family and friends and worked at a variety of jobs including overseeing several of their rental homes.  Coleen was a faithful member of Golden Harvest Baptist Church in Springfield.  

Coleen had many talents and hobbies that included crocheting, painting ceramic figurines, working in her flower garden, and baking delicious desserts like red velvet cake, chocolate chip cookies and the best apple pie you ever tasted! Coleen and Jim loved to dance, starting out with square dancing, moving on to ballroom dancing, and even some western boot scootin’. In their 60’s they became involved with several local Senior Centers where they made many friends, listened to country music, and danced the night away.  

Recently, during her stay at Maranatha Nursing Home. She made many friends there and gained a reputation for being sweet and spicy. That summed up her personality for most everyone that knew her. 

Coleen was blessed with a large loving family. She is survived by her husband, Jim; her two sons Brad, daughter-in-law Denise; Greg, daughter-in-law Myra; eight grandchildren and partners; Ashley Sullivan Rodriguez and Edmundo Rodriguez, Todd Sullivan, Nik Sullivan and Cherri Sellers, Korey Sullivan Castillo and Bobby Castillo, Shay Turner Young and Mike Lee, Buddy Sullivan and Grace Sullivan, Jake Turner and Stevie Turner.   

She is also survived by an abundance of great-grandchildren; (Ashley) Tony, Barbara, Anika, James, Lilli, (Todd) Hunter, Tanner, Arlie, (Christine) Kylie, Tyler, (Nik) Layla, (Korey) Parker, Lincoln, Camden, (Shay) Dayton, Turner, Gabby, (Buddy) Ellie, Jackson, (Jake) Raeleigh; her sister and brother-in-law Judy Dodson Kirkpatrick, Bob Kirkpatrick; sister-in-law Charlotte Sullivan Herndon; and many nieces and nephews.   

Coleen is preceded in death by her granddaughter Christine Sullivan and Coleen’s parents Coleman and Wilma (York) Dodson. 

A visitation for Coleen will be held on Thursday, 11th of April, 2024, at 12:00 PM, with a service to follow at 1:00 p.m. at Greenlawn Funeral Home North in Springfield, Missouri.  The burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens located in Springfield, MO.