Madeline Sullivan
March 15, 1929 - January 16, 2018

Madeline's Story
Madeline Murphree Sullivan, 88, of Commerce, passed away at her home on Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018.
She was born March 15, 1929, in Denton, Texas, the daughter of William Arthur Murphree and Anna E'Lane Bailey Murphree.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, Jan. 19, at Commerce Funeral Home.
Her funeral service will be held Saturday, Jan. 20, at 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Commerce with Rev. Gregory Neal officiating. Interment will follow at Rosemound Cemetery.
Madeline grew up in Denton, graduating from Denton High School. She then attended Texas State College for Women (now Texas Woman's University), earning her degree in business, and later earned her master's degree in guidance and counseling from TWU. She worked as a counselor at R.L. Turner High School in the Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD for 19 years. Madeline married A.C. Sullivan, also of Denton, on Oct. 1, 1950. Upon Madeline's retirement in 1985, they moved permanently to their ranch in Commerce, where they built their current home. They were faithful members of the First United Methodist Church during their years in Commerce. They enjoyed 52 years together before A.C.'s death in 2003.
Madeline enjoyed many varied activities in her leisure time. Her lifelong love and passion was horses. She enjoyed trail riding and every moment spent in the saddle. Quilting was a joy that she pursued as a member of the Cotton Patch Quilt Guild in Greenville and the Cotton Blossoms Quilt Circle in Commerce. She was a member of the first class of the Hunt County Master Gardeners. She was also a member of the Louise Drake Garden Club, as well as the Coterie Culture Club. Madeline was a founding member of the Heisey Collectors of Texas, an antique glass club of which she was a member for 40-plus years.
Madeline is survived by her daughters, Rosemary Sullivan and Kathleen Sullivan Hooten; son-in-law Greg Hooten; and grandchildren Jourdan Sullivan, Shelton Sullivan, Spencer Sullivan, and Luke Hooten.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband, A.C. Sullivan; her son, Mark Sullivan; her parents, W.A. and E'Lane Murphree; and her sister, Margot Murphree, who died as a child.
Serving as pallbearers for Madeline will be Dillon Smith, John Smith, Chuck Oelkers , Henry Lee, John Talley, and Bobby Madewell.
Memorial gifts may be made to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 8111 LBJ Fwy, No. 425, Dallas, Texas 75251 or the Northeast Texas Children's Museum, 2501 Hwy 24, Commerce, Texas 75428.

Published on January 17, 2018