Obituary of Sally Monroe

Beloved wife, mother, and big sister, Sally Lee Sullivan Monroe, of Frankfort, died January 16, 2024 following an illness. She was 72. As the firstborn of Margaret and J.H. “Bunk” Sullivan, Sally brought boundless energy, love and fun to the responsibilities she shouldered as big sister, babysitter, seamstress, hairstylist and activities director for her six sisters and two brothers. Sally first met her future husband Mickey Monroe in third grade at Thorn Hill Elementary, though their first date would not come until their days at Franklin County High School. After graduating, the two set out on their 53-year marriage adventure. Along the way, they celebrated the birth of their daughter Jennifer. As doting parents and young professionals, they still found time to serve as fairy godparents to the younger Sullivans. Sally served in the office of Governor Louie B. Nunn before working as assistant to the administrator of King’s Daughters Hospital. When the hospital closed in 1974, she, as a member of the Silent Workers Circle, oversaw the transformation of the building into 60 apartments that she would go on to manage for three decades. In addition to handling all facilities operations and programming, she shepherded residents and their families through the difficulties of downsizing and celebrated their stories while innovating ways to draw them into their new community. In both her professional and personal life, she strove to make all feel loved and welcome. Sally was an accomplished artisan. In her early teens, Sally learned to sew from her grandmother Nellie Sullivan and for years after outfitted her family in beautiful originals. She invented the extreme sport of speed walking through town while knitting exquisite sweaters for lucky family members and friends. Her legacy lives on in the embroidery, knitting, painting and basketry she created for others. Sally’s adventurous spirit extended to art, culture and cuisine, which she loved to share with others. She broadened her family’s culinary horizons, introducing them to French, Chinese and Shaker cuisines. She and Mickey loved to travel, especially to their ancestral homelands of Scotland and Ireland. Sally relished meeting and talking with people wherever she went. She had encyclopedic memory of family lore and Frankfort history, knowledge cultivated through a genuine interest in the lives of others. As a prolific letter-writer, she often shared that lore with faraway friends and family through lively narratives and witty poems. Sally made all that she mastered look easy. From a young age, she met adversity with grace and good humor, and was always quick to offer her kind smile, comforting words and even material aid to others who faced adversity of their own. She was a lifelong member of First Christian Church and a native Frankfortian who proudly supported local businesses. Sally is survived by her husband, Dr. Mickey Monroe; daughter, Jennifer Monroe (Mark Stone), Frankfort; sisters Julie Sullivan (Bruce Barton), Atlanta, Ga.; Susan Sullivan (Doug Bonk), Marietta, Ga.; Nancy Franklin, Frankfort; Jane Sullivan (Bill Fredrick), Versailles; Nell Sullivan, Houston, Texas; Laura Sullivan (Colin Hackley), Tallahassee, Fla.; brothers Steven Sullivan (Martha), Baltimore, Md.; Jeffrey Sullivan (Meche), Falls Church, Va.; brother-in-law Steve Monroe (Carol), Frankfort; aunt Jodie Hillard, Frankfort; nieces and nephews she doted upon; her beloved companion dog, Madge; and grand-dog, Sid. A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church on Friday, February 2nd at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the church.