Joanne passed away May 7, 2019, in Lake Havasu, Ariz., after a courageous nine year battle with cancer. She spent the last six weeks of her life with her daughter, Joy, who took her to all her favorite casinos in Washington, California and Nevada. Joy feels blessed to have spent those last weeks with her and to be by her side as she took her final breath.
She was born in Deer Lodge, Mont., Aug. 22, 1935, to Joseph and Anne (Keeney) Lamuth. Because Joanne’s parents died very young, she was raised in a Catholic orphanage in Helena until high school. She graduated from Butte High School in 1953, and worked at Safeway in Butte. She married Steve Sullivan in 1954, and four children followed, Dan, Mike, Mark and Joy. In 1962, the family moved from Butte to Centralia. Joanne ran the family business, Sully’s Motorcycle Shop, from 1962 until 1973. After the shop closed, she worked for Central TV and Appliance as head bookkeeper for 33 years until her retirement in 2006.
Joanne loved to read, travel and work out at the gym. She was always ready to try a new adventure. As a teenager, she climbed trees and rode them down after they were cut by loggers. She surfed, skied, para-sailed and traveled to many destinations, including Ireland and Australia. She enjoyed a good glass of wine and on occasion would gamble up to $20 at the casino.
She was a no-nonsense woman who had a tremendous love for her family. Joanne was a beautiful soul inside and out. She will be missed by anyone who ever crossed her path.
She is survived by her sons, Dan Sullivan of Centralia, Mike Sullivan, (Valerie) of Centralia and Mark Sullivan of Denver, Colo.; daughter, Joy Sullivan (Dave) of Earp, Calif.; granddaughter, Shawna Sullivan of Seattle; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Steve in 2017; brother, Don (Moose) Lamuth; and her granddaughter, Sarah Slape.
A special thanks to the staff of the Centralia Oncology Center, Dr. Wang and John Hylton for their fine care during her Illness.
There will be a potluck celebration of life at the Centralia Moose Lodge, 1400 Grand Ave., June 15, 2019, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.
