More detail on this person: Owen Lee Sully
took his "high flight" to heaven on September 16,
2014. Every warrior must finally rest and he has
completed his mission as a soldier, patriot,
police officer, Sheriff, community leader, father,
grandfather, husband, survivor and friend of many.
Owen, 78, was born in Leavenworth, Kan., to Henry
Leroy and Lola Laverne (Garrison) Sully moving to
Kansas City, Kan., as a youth. He graduated from
Wyandotte High School ('55) and Central Missouri
State University with B.S. and M.S. degrees in
criminal justice administration, as well as many
military training schools. He began his military
career joining the Naval Reserves in Olathe
between his junior and senior year of high school.
While still attending Wyandotte High School and
KCK Community College he already was a naval
reserve drill instructor training many local
veterans. He attended Navy flight school in
Pensacola, Fla., where he made lifelong friends
and fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a
pilot. He also performed on a national stage as
member of the Naval Cadet choir. He later
transferred to the Kansas Army National Guard and
attended Army Cobra helicopter flight school. His
combat service includes the Cuban crisis with the
Navy and in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne
Division. He retired from the U.S. Army Reserve in
1996 as a CW4 Master Aviator with over 6000 hours
of accident free flight time. He joined the Kansas
City, Kansas Police Department as a district
officer 1961. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1988
having served in many capacities including the
motorcycle unit, station commander of west patrol,
south patrol, youth bureau, night field commander
and case screening of the Detective Bureau, pilot
and commander of the KCK Police Helicopter Unit.
Owen Sully was an active Republican since he was
old enough to vote for Gen. Dwight Eisenhower. He
was elected Sheriff of Wyandotte County in 1988.
As Sheriff he supervised the opening and
administration of the new Detention Center and
fought to maintain the constitutional office of
sheriff as the newly unified city-county
government was implemented. He increased
professionalism by including testing for
employment and promotion, implementing standard
operating procedures for the Sheriff's Office,
promoting the FOP within the Sheriff's office and
created the only county jail in Kansas able to
certify detention officers besides the state.
Following his term as Sheriff, Owen lived in
Osawatomie, Kan. There he also ran for Governor of
Kansas. Returning to KCK he continued to conquer
other challenges, defeating heart failure and
cancer. Owen loved his family dearly and always
encouraged high goals, Christian values and
standards for his children and grandchildren. He
was a member of Osawatomie Church of the
Nazarene. He coached soccer teams and was a
member of many community organizations. He was
preceded in death by his parents, sister, Loretta
Mae King and brother, James Bernard Sully. He is
survived by his wife of 50 years, Zelma (Call)
Sully; daughter, Sheila Ann Sully-Russell; son,
Owen Lee Sully, Jr.; six grandchildren, Ashley
Renee June, Lacey Jae' Russell, John James
Russell Jr., Storme Legend Sully, Talon La'akai
Sully, Levi Zachary Russell, and great-grandchild,
Kelsey Ann-Marie Reek. He is also survived by two
sisters, Evelyn Jean Armstrong of KCK, and Irene
Collins of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and many
nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation will be
4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, at Open Door
Baptist Church, 3033 N. 103rd Terrace, KCK 66109
with service at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, also at Open
Door Baptist Church. Burial at 12:30 p.m. at
Leavenworth National Cemetery. The family
requests in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to
the Open Door Baptist Church Benevolent Fund or
to a charity or cause of your choice in Owen's
name. Condolences may be expressed at:
www.porterfuneralhome.com Arr.: Porter Funeral
Home & Crematory, 1835 Minnesota Ave., Kansas
City, Kan., (913) 621-6400.
Published in Kansas City Star from Sept. 21 to
Sept. 22, 2014
This information was last updated 06/06/2013
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