Pauline "Paule" Sullivan

December 14th, 1934 - July 3rd, 2026

Pauline “Paule” (Hutcheson) Sullivan of Spokane, Washington, passed away on July 3, 2026. Born December 14, 1934, in Tuthill, South Dakota, to Paul and Katie (Baumiller) Hutcheson, Paule’s early life reflected her family’s westward journey. From South Dakota, the family eventually made their way west, living in Twin Falls and Moscow, Idaho, before settling in Spokane, Washington, where Paule would spend most of her life.

She graduated from John R. Rogers High School, where she lettered in tennis.

In 1956, she married the love of her life, Terrence “Terry” Sullivan. Together they built a life centered on family, hard work, and adventure, raising two children, Shaun and Amy. Terry passed far too soon in 2014.

Paule had three distinct careers throughout her life: the telephone company, Spokane School District 81, and URM Stores. At the telephone company, she wore many hats. Her work ranged from assisting the FBI in tracking persons of interest through long-distance calling records to collecting overdue accounts. One of her favorite stories involved a local illicit businesswoman who routinely paid at the last possible moment and insisted on paying Paule directly in cash because she knew Paule was the one who meant business.

While working for Spokane School District 81, Paule developed a specialized curriculum in partnership with an employee of Spokane Catholic Schools. Their work was later used in the Title I program, reflecting both her intelligence and her commitment to helping children learn.

At URM Stores, she brought her trademark charm, grace, and professionalism to Human Resources. Retirement didn’t last long—she missed working and people too much, eventually returning to work as a bookkeeper at Cash & Carry located on Springfield Avenue.

Paule was a grand adventurer. Long before adventure travel became commonplace, she spent a summer working aboard a fishing boat in Alaska. She later celebrated her 50th birthday on the beach at Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, explored the Amazon—where she delighted local tribespeople with her ability to whistle using only her hands and a blade of grass—and traveled throughout South America. Her adventures also took her across most of the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, and Finland.

Adventure, however, didn’t require a passport. Some of Paule’s happiest moments were spent exploring closer to home. Family weekend drives often included searching for waterfalls, abandoned towns, scenic backroads, and, in later years, geocaches. Along the way, the family counted birds and wildlife sightings, turning every outing into a shared adventure. Many of those drives included her sister, Louella, and brother-in-law, Bill, making the journey as memorable as the destination.

Paule was a lifelong learner with a deep curiosity about the world. She faithfully read the daily newspaper, subscribed to multiple magazines, and kept herself informed on current events. She was also the family’s iron-fisted remote-control dictator, insisting that the nightly news, CNN, and MSNBC remain required viewing.

Paule’s curiosity extended deeply into genealogy and family history, a passion she developed at a young age and pursued long before online family trees and DNA matches existed. She researched the old-fashioned way—writing dozens of letters, enclosing self-addressed stamped envelopes, calling directory assistance in search of names and addresses, and combing through city directories at the library.

Her parents, Paul and Katie, were invaluable resources, maintaining connections with extended family and helping gather updated family information. Paule also became a careful keeper of stories, preserving family history shared not only by her own parents but also by her mother-in-law. Thanks to her dedication, countless names, connections, and stories that might otherwise have been lost were preserved for future generations.

Paule believed in hard work, personal responsibility, and doing things right the first time. Saturdays meant chores, and both Shaun and Amy knew expectations were high. It was never enough to simply finish the job—it had to meet Paule’s standards and “shine like a new nickel,” one of her favorite expressions.

Paule’s influence extended deeply into the next generation through her grandson, Riley, whose life was shaped in countless ways by her constant presence. She was woven into the rhythm of his daily life—helping get him to school when needed, picking him up afterward, and providing a steady source of love, structure, and dependability. She was not simply part of his life—she was one of the constants that helped shape it.

That influence showed up in both meaningful and amusing ways. Riley naturally absorbed many of Paule’s old-school expressions and vocabulary, casually using words like “britches,” “bum,” and “loosey-goosey”—sometimes sounding decades older than his peers.

Paule’s gift for caring for others extended far beyond her immediate family. Over the years, she became a maternal figure, mentor, and trusted source of wisdom to many—family, friends, neighbors, and generations of children and young adults whose lives intersected with hers. She had a remarkable ability to connect with people of all ages, offering guidance, honesty, encouragement, and, when needed, gentle but firm truth. To many, she simply became "Mom."

Paule and Terry believed that family was not defined solely by blood. Their home was a place where others were welcomed, supported, and cared for. Whether it was their children’s friends, the children of lifelong friends, neighborhood kids, or the family’s foreign exchange students, Paule had a way of making people feel safe, seen, valued, and loved.

She took a genuine interest in people’s lives, listening carefully, remembering details, and offering steady wisdom without pretense. Her love, generosity, and quiet strength reached far beyond the walls of her own home and left a lasting mark on countless lives.

Paule will be remembered for her intelligence, resilience, kindness, and unwavering devotion to those she loved. She was patient, generous, and steady—a source of strength and dependability for family across generations. Whether she was preserving family history, exploring a new corner of the world, welcoming someone into her home, or simply listening with genuine interest, Paule had a remarkable way of making people feel seen, valued, and loved. Her curiosity, warmth, and love leave a lasting mark on all who knew her.

Paule was preceded in death by her husband, Terrence “Terry” Sullivan; her parents, Paul and Katie Hutcheson; her mother-in-law, Helen; her brother, Robert Hutcheson; his wife, Jean Hutcheson; and their son, Carl Hutcheson; her brother, Roger Hutcheson; her sister, Louella Hill; her brother-in-law, Bill Hill; and her daughter-in-law, Shelley Sullivan.

Paule is survived by her son, Shaun Sullivan of McKinney, TX; her daughter, Amy Sullivan of Spokane, WA; and her grandson, Riley Sullivan of Spokane, WA. She also leaves behind five beloved grand-dogs, several nieces and nephews, and many cherished friends whose lives were enriched by her love, wisdom, and friendship.

A Celebration of Paule’s Life will be held at a later date. Service details will be shared here once arrangements have been finalized. Family and friends are encouraged to check back for updates. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to Hospice of Spokane in appreciation for the compassionate care and comfort they provided during Paule’s final days.