Stuart Sullivan's Obituary
Most people see heaven in the sky, but if you asked Stuart Sullivan, he’d tell you it’s also in lakes, the woods and in the crunchy sound of walking through fall leaves. He died Saturday morning, July 29, dreaming of a disc golf tournament he was set to play later that day. He was 26. Stuart was born May 8, 1991 — a brown-headed, brown-eyed baby boy with cheeks that dimpled from his easy smile. Stuart was a curious fellow who seemed to wake up on the run, ready to do something to start the day, even if it was just to crawl. This lasted throughout his short life. He abided shoes the way children took to vegetables — necessary but not always welcomed. He loved being outdoors, whether he was toddling through the grass or riding his bicycle He was a curious, giggly, friendly fellow who climbed into anyone’s outstretched arms. When he was four, Stuart met his favorite guy — Matthew, his new baby brother. Stuart loved holding his brother and patiently leaned to kiss his head for every photo opportunity his mother spotted. Matthew said he and Stuart had one of those relationships like so many brothers where bonds were forged through disagreements. Since he was four years older, Stuart believed whatever he learned, he needed to teach his younger brother, even if Matthew didn’t want to learn. “He would spend hours trying to get me to throw a baseball right,” Matthew said. He wasn’t patient and he would yell although he was just trying to make sure I got it right,” Matthew said. Stuart learned to play the violin in elementary school and played through high school earning 2nd chair in the string orchestra at White Station. This helped form his eclectic taste in music. He loved the old country sound, rap, blues, classic rock, and classical with Vivaldi being his favorite composer. Two of his favorite country artists were Johnny Cash and Hank Williams Jr. There’s a dusty turntable and cassette player in his bedroom that he refused to let his mother Wendy throw away. He told her he might need it someday. Stuart’s love of the outdoors comes from his father John, who regularly took the boys camping and fishing. Stuart and Matthew both helped John build each a sailboat from scratch. Stuart was huge sports fan. He loved the Yankees, Titans, Grizzlies, Redbirds and the Memphis Tigers. He lettered in baseball at White Station High School, where he graduated in 2009. His favorite baseball team was the Yankees, no doubt because his father was a fan. Matthew’s favorite team? Boston Red Sox. Coincidence? Nope. Stuart wore this t-shirt with something like 26 Yankee rings and maybe five Red Sox rings. Matthew loved it when the Sox won the Series shortly after Stuart got the t-shirt. Last Thursday (July 27, 2017) he texted his mother, “please tell me you didn’t throw away my Grizz growl towels.” She let him know they were folded in his drawer. He responded, “O praise Jesus. I was about to be devastated. Haha!” Stuart’s latest sports passion was disc golf. He received his professional disc golf number last Thursday in time for the tournament last Saturday. He was so proud of getting the number. After high school, he attended Christian Brothers University and the University of Memphis. Recently he was taking classes to become a machinist. In addition to his parents and his brother, he leaves behind grandmothers Joy Stewart and Roberta Sullivan; uncles Robert Stewart and Gene Stewart; as well as many other family members and friends. Visitation is Friday, 6-8 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Appalachia Service Project. He will be cremated and his ashes will be scattered in his favorite place, the woods.
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