Elizabeth Miller Sullivan

On Wednesday afternoon, December 15th 2021, our amazing mom and granny Elizabeth “Betty” Sullivan went home to be with the love of her life, Kirk Sullivan, and with the Lord. Betty passed away peacefully with her kids at her side. She is survived by her two children, Hal Sullivan (Angie Barber) and Kim Brown (Skip Brown), her grandchildren, Matthew, Adam and Sara all of Seattle, Washington. She is survived by four siblings: Jim Miller, John Miller (Nicki), Arch Miller (Anna) and Ann Thornburg (Jim). She is preceded in death by her brother Zeke Miller.

Betty was born Elizabeth J. Miller on June 5th, 1934, in Beckley, West Virginia to parents J. Robert and Huldah Miller. The oldest of six children, she was very proud of her family and her West Virginia background. From an early age Betty was gifted with a beautiful soprano voice. She sang and danced in many community, church and school plays and musicals. She also participated in a wide array of local pageants and community events. Betty graduated from Saint Albans High School in 1952 and spent a period of time as a student at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. She returned home to meet the love of her life on a blind date and they were married June 18th, 1960. She worked as a stenographer in the West Virginia legislature and a court reporter to support herself and her husband while he was in college in South Carolina. In 1961, they welcomed their son, Hal. Betty often traveled between Clemson and West Virginia with young Hal so that the family could spend time together while Kirk was in school.

Eventually life would take them to Pocatello, Idaho, in 1966, where dad worked for FMC and she stayed home with Hal and their newborn, Kim. Betty loved to cook and it was her greatest pride to provide a happy, well-kept home and the most incredible meals for her family. A one-year work opportunity for Kirk called them to New York City. But they always knew Idaho was their home, and they eventually returned to it in 1970 where they stayed together for the remainder of their fifty-nine years of marriage.

While she raised two busy kids, Betty also participated in the Cathedral of the Rockies, First United Methodist Church Women’s Auxiliary for over twenty years as a support to all the church social events. She sang in the Boise Master Chorale for two decades. Hal and Kim recall a home filled with beautiful classical music and their mother’s lovely singing voice. Additionally, she participated in the National Assistance League for three decades, including serving as the National President of Assistance League in the 1980s. In her later years, she served as a board member of the Boise Opera Company. While Betty did all of these things she was never away from her kids unless it was to support Kirk’s career, working alongside him to achieve shared goals for their family.

Betty’s greatest wish in her later years was fulfilled with the birth of her three grandchildren: Matthew, Adam and Sara. Of all the titles she carried, none made her prouder than the titles of mom and “Granny.” In retirement, for as long as they were able, Betty and Kirk traveled, hand in hand, to see the world, still as deeply in love as ever. When the time came to stay home they stayed together every day, through assisted living and finally hospice, until heaven called Kirk home. Betty continued to be with her children and grandchildren in Seattle, Washington, smiling and sharing stories with her family over chocolate chip cookies and plenty of John Wayne movies. She will be remembered for her laughter and kindness, as well as the strength and the dignity she modeled for us to and through her last breath. Betty will be buried in Boise with Kirk in April 2022.