Vernice E (Parkins) Sullivan passed away peacefully Friday, Dec. 23, 2016, at Guardian Angels Homes in Lewiston. She was 96 years old.
Born on Sept. 3, 1920, to Cal and Minnie Parkins in Cold Springs Canyon, Idaho, she joined two brothers, Major and Edward, and three sisters, Rosella, Edna and Vella.
The entire Parkins family was musically inclined, and all played some type of instrument. Vernice played piano by ear and could play anything you could sing or hum to her. Many family gatherings were spent with Mom on the piano entertaining the rest of the family.
Vernice and Van Sullivan were married in 1938 in Nezperce. The couple relocated to the Mukilteo/Edmonds, Wash., area where Van worked at the ship yards during World War II. Many stories were shared of the experiences they had while living through this time.
During this time they were blessed with their first two daughters Sharon and Maureen. After returning back to Idaho, Van and Vernice moved to Reubens and owned/operated the grocery store. At that time they purchased their first farm ground, and the rest was history. The couple worked day and night to build the farm that they both were very proud of. Leading the way to many firsts in the farm industry, the couple made their home on top of the Old Winchester Grade, and along came two more children, Patti and Larry.
While Vernice worked hand-in-hand every day on the farm, she could out plow, out seed and out drive most of the men. She acquired her first Kenworth in the late 70s, and her test drive was a load down the Greer grade to the port with her trusted poodle. All five foot little woman could truck with the best of them. She was given the duties of teaching all hired hands and grandchildren to seed or harvest the fields, and they can all tell you of that experience.
In her later years while sitting with some other seniors competing for candy bars with Jeopardy questions mom asked, “Do any of you know how to start a D8”?
In 1977 Van passed away, and for eight years Vernice ran the farm before moving to Lewiston for retirement. Retirement for Vernice meant traveling with her sister, Vella, to various places.
She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Finnell (Bob), Maureen Hewett (Jerry), Patti Meshishnek (Kent); and son Larry Sullivan (Misti); grandchildren Kevin Finnell, Kelly Finnell, Chad Hewett, Kirby Meshishnek, Erin Sullivan and Mat Sullivan; four great-grandchildren: Derek, Travis, Shelbey and Taylor; and two great-great grandchildren with one more on the way.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Cal and Minnie; all of her siblings; and two grandsons — Curt Hewett and Willie Van Meshishnek.
Vernice resided at Guardian Angel Homes in Lewiston at the time of her death. Her family thanks each of the staff for their kind and gentle care for our mom. The family wishes donations be made to a charity of your choice. Services have been made by Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston, with the funeral service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. A reception at the Lewiston Roundup Grounds ketch pen will follow.
Service Information
- Date & Time
- Wednesday, December 28, 11:00 AM
- Location
-
Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home
920-21st Avenue
Lewiston, Idaho 83501
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Condolences
KJ
I am so sorry for your loss. May the God of all comfort described in 2 Corinthians 1;3,4 provide comfort for your family. Losing a loved one in death is never easy, but the Bible reassures us in Isaiah 25:8 that soon death will be no more. What a wonderful time that will be for all of us.
Thursday, January 5, 2017 9:09 AM
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