John H. Sullivan

OLD TOWN - John H. Sullivan, fighting a long battle with heart disease, fell into a deep sleep and found peace on December 24, 2015. John is the husband of Nancy Oakes Sullivan. They were married for 58 years. John was born in Old Town on May 4, 1938, where he lived his whole life. He attended Old Town High School, before joining the workforce and eventually owning and operating his own business, Sullivan's Automotive Service, for 49 years. Dad loved his family and took very good care of us all. He never came first and always made sure we never went without. He built all five of his children's homes, plus 2 of his own through self-taught skills. Dad was never one to hire anyone to fix anything. If he didn't know how, he figured it out. He learned many skills and his work ethic from his grandfather and role model Tony Sullivan, a work ethic instilled in all of his children. Dad spent many hours planting and tending to his garden and doing his lawn work. He enjoyed his hunting camp in Maxfield, where some of his greatest memories were made with his younger grandchildren when they would have a sleepover the night before Thanksgiving. A Christmas tradition was Dad making his Christmas bread for the entire family. In the winter he enjoyed snowmobiling and ice fishing. John especially enjoyed time spent with good friend, Frank Roy. John was a very hard-working man and he taught his sons and sons-in-law many skills. He was a quiet presence at all family gatherings, filled with enormous pride of the family that he created.John is survived by his wife, Nancy, his five children and their spouses: Suzanne and Jerry Stormann, Dianne and Gary Avery, Gary and Denise Sullivan, Tony and Jill Sullivan, and Katie and Mark Vaillancourt. He has eleven grandchildren and their spouses: Melissa and Adam Metivier, Jeremy and Jean Stormann, Jenny and Chris Albert, Adam Avery and fiancée Julia Coughlin, Danielle and Jeff Shepard, Greg and Rachel Sullivan, Chelsea Sullivan, Laura Vaillancourt, Sarah Vaillancourt, Nicholas Sullivan, and Taylor Sullivan and six great-grandchildren: Mary, Cameron, Caiden, Mckenzie, Wyatt, and Aiden.John was predeceased by his mother, Annie Irene Sullivan Elliott, stepfather, Stanley Elliott, and stepbrother James Elliott.The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Dr. Adam Lauer, who very patiently and lovingly took care of John for many years, and Gentiva Home Healthcare.Funeral services will be held at the Orono Methodist Church, with Pastor Steve Smith officiating, on Thursday, December 31, 2015, at 11:00 am. Burial will be at Lawndale Cemetery, Old Town. Memorial contributions may be made to the Maine Youth Fish and Game Association P.O. Box 337 Stillwater, ME 04489 www.maineyouthfishandgame.org