Eileen Sullivan

Eileen Eilerts Sullivan, 84, passed away Saturday, November 2, 2024, at McAllen Medical Center.
Eileen was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to Betty Armstrong Burt and Thomas Thielin Eilerts. The family eventually settled in Eldon, MO. After attending Drury College in Springfield, MO she and her husband moved to Bartlesville, OK to raise their family. She was active in her children's activities, including many years in Scouting. In Bartlesville, she became known as the "flag lady." Dressed in colonial garb, she would visit schools to teach the history and proper respect of the American flag.
Eileen owned Wonderland Bakery in Bartlesville. After years of decorating beautiful cakes, her hands gave out, and she returned to school, graduating from Oklahoma Wesleyan University with a degree in English.
Eileen and Larry retired to Eldon, MO, where she taught English and Theology at Helias High School in nearby Jefferson City, MO. She once again was called the "flag lady" by a local, when she chastised him for flying a worn American flag over his business. When she saw he had replaced the flag, she baked him a cake. Her love of our flag continued after the move to Alamo, TX where she replaced flags around her community when needed.
Cooking and baking were two of her passions, shown by her extensive recipe and cookbook collection. She enjoyed reading and listening to audiobooks, everything from philosophy, theology and history to light-hearted fiction. Most of all Eileen was a woman of great faith, faith that sustained her through much adversity.
Eileen Sullivan is preceded in death by two sons, Michael Sullivan, Thomas Sullivan; and a granddaughter, Lori Ruiz.
She is survived by her husband, Larry Sullivan; a daughter, Beth S. (Larry) Ruiz; three grandchildren, Lt. Col. Lorenzo Ruiz, Bryan Ruiz, Evan Sullivan; a sister, Betty Sue Hugo; a daughter-in-law, Justine Sullivan; a niece; and two nephews.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, November 8, 2024, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Edinburg. Cremation will take place at Memorial Cremation Center in Edinburg. Interment of cremated remains will be held at a later date in Eldon, Missouri.
Funeral services are under the direction of Memorial Funeral Home in Edinburg.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St Joseph Catholic School, Edinburg, TX