Ira passed away Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at home, at 81 years of age. A native of Ontario, Wisconsin and long-time resident of El Sobrante. Survived by his daughter, Shawn DeMello and her husband, Michael of El Sobrante; sister, Emme Stoddard of Hillsboro, Wisconsin; brother, Nick Sullivan of Hillsboro, Wisconsin; grandchildren, Katie DeMello and Jared DeMello, both of El Sobrante; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Mary Sullivan in 2012; and son, Michael Sullivan in 1982. Ira served in the US Navy in Korea and Japan during the Korean War. He worked as a truck driver for A.H. Thompson Paint Co, Berkeley, retired 1998, and also worked as a farrier. He was an honorary lifetime member of the California State Horsemen’s Assn (where he was a gymkhana judge for over 30 years), Tri-Cities Horsemen’s Assn, and Bayview Horsemen’s Assn. He was an excellent horseman, and much loved by his family, animals, and all those he came in contact with. Ira touched the lives of so many.

Friends and acquaintances are cordially invited to attend funeral services Monday, February 24 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of Sunset View Mortuary, top of Fairmount Avenue, El Cerrito; interment, Sunset View Cemetery. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Assn, 135 Parkinson Ave, Staten Island NY 10305 (apda@apdaparkinson.org).