Jeraldeen Faye Sullenberger

Jerrie Sullenberger passed away in Cañon City, Colorado on August 25, 2021, at the age of 99.

Jerrie was born on March 31, 1922, to James and Martha McComb in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She was the youngest by minutes of 4 children, as she was often reminded of by her twin brother, Jerald. The family moved to South Bend, Indiana where Jerrie graduated from Riley High School in 1940.

Jerrie was determined to be the first one in her family to go to college and she succeeded. She graduated with a BA from Park College, Parkville, Missouri in 1945. She met her husband, Willard “Sully” Sullenberger while at Park and as she told the story, it was not “love at first sight” but eventually he wore her down and they were married in 1947. Her future father-in-law, Dr. Linn Sullenberger, a Presbyterian minister serving in Guatemala, presided over the wedding. They honeymooned in Guatemala where Sully introduced her to his family and friends and Jerrie scandalized everyone by wearing a two-piece bathing suit during a family outing.

Jerrie and Sully started married life in Kansas City, Missouri while Sully completed his army service. They moved to Chicago, Illinois but when Jerrie found out she was expecting they decided that they did not want to raise a family in Chicago. They moved to Denver, Colorado where she had 3 sons, James, Robert, and Michael, and one daughter, Martha. In 1965 the family moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado, and then in 1971 to Los Alamos, New Mexico where they stayed until Sully retired from EG&G. When looking for a place to retire, Jerrie and Sully fell in love with a house in Cañon City, Colorado and so they moved into their final home. Jerrie and Sully were married for 66 years before Sully passed away in 2013.

Jerrie was a consummate quilter and was very active in quilting groups, both in Los Alamos and Cañon City. She enjoyed experimenting with all aspects of the fabric arts but making quilts for friends and family was her first love. She won numerous awards for her quilts. One she made for her granddaughter, Jessica, appeared in the December 1999 Christmas issue of Lady’s Circle Patchwork Quilts. She taught quilting classes out of her home for several years. Later she was a member of the Fremont Victory Quilters, sewing quilts for military veterans.

Jerrie is survived by her twin brother, Jerald; sons, Jim (Judy), Robert (Carole), and Mike (Cindy); daughter, Martha (Dale) Fry; grandchildren, Crystal, Jessica, Emily, Christopher, Clinton, and Dan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, 1 brother, and 1 sister.

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