Gaylen Roger Sullivan

Gaylen Roger “Sully” Sullivan, 83, of Goldsby, Oklahoma passed away on November 15, 2021 in Norman Oklahoma.

Sully was born in Great Bend, Kansas to Toy Roger “Jack” and Lillian Oleta Sullivan on September 24, 1938.  He attended Great Bend High School and graduated in 1956.  He went on to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape Architecture from Kansas State University in 1961.

Shortly after graduating in August of 1961, Sully enlisted in the Air National Guard in Hutchinson, Kansas to serve his nation. After transferring to California and achieving the rank of Staff sergeant, he received an honorable discharge from North Highlands Air National Guard Base six years later. 

In June 1962, The City of Anaheim Parks & Recreation Department hired Sully as a Landscape Technician where he designed many public parks still in use today. He later began his own landscaping business, G.R. Sullivan & Associates and continued designing parks throughout Southern California.  Sully married Donna Elizabeth Gillard in 1966. They later welcomed their daughter Teri Ann Sullivan to the world in 1969.  In 1984, Sully moved to Anadarko, Oklahoma where he fulfilled his dream of playing senior softball, working on his family’s farm and enjoying the outdoors.

If you asked those who knew him to describe Sully, they would likely say he was a forever dreamer and eternal optimist.  They would say he used his gifts to start multiple businesses and have a positive influence on the lives he touched.  If you asked Sully, his greatest accomplishment was not his service to our nation, the many parks he designed or the hours on the baseball fields. It was being a brother, father and grandfather.

Sully is survived by his daughter Teri Ann Lyles and spouse George Lyles of Placentia, CA, his sister Carolyn Kay Breeden and spouse Ron Breeden of Goldsby, OK, his grandchildren Justin Taylor and spouse Alexandra Taylor of Newcastle, OK, Derek Taylor of Costa Mesa, CA, Cole Scott Lyles of Norman, OK, Connor Lyles of Placentia, CA, his nephews Ronald Breeden Jr. and spouse Emma Breeden of Orange, CA, Jon Breeden and Melissa Breeden of Pasadena, CA.; his great grandchildren Annalisse Taylor and Javier Taylor of Newcastle, OK.

Sully is preceded in death by his parents Jack and Lillian Sullivan of Anadarko, OK.