Sallye Esther McCullough

April 4, 2022

Sallye Esther McCullough departed this world on April 4th at the age of 79 in Bokeelia, Florida. Born on March 20, 1943 in Leesburg, FL, Sallye is survived by her lifelong friend Sandra Bruner, and her brother Ralph McCullough. Sallye was preceded in death by her parents Ralph and Doris McCullough and sister Permelia. In 1985 she met Sandra Bruner while caring for horses in Lakeland, Florida. The two formed a friendship that would last for the rest of their lives. Sallye is survived by Sandra’s son, Steven Ulman Bruner, who remembers her as a second mother and good friend. After she graduated from Lakeland High School she pursued higher education. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Florida in Elementary Education and Teaching as well as a Special Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration also from the University of South Florida. She would go on to dedicate her life to teaching children, first as a teacher and then as an administrator. Her 30-year long career culminated as the much beloved vice principal and later principal of Wahneta Elementary School in Winter Haven, Florida. Upon her retirement in 2000, her impact on the elementary and the community was memorialized with the dedication of the “Sallye Esther McCullough Media Arts Center” to further the education of kids in the years to come. After her retirement, Sallye and Sandy custom built the retirement home of their dreams on a lovely canal on Pine Island, Florida. Here they made many wonderful friends, and spent their time at what she loved, which was fishing in the inland waters, scooping up Blue Crabs and enjoying life. She was a generous and caring person and will be greatly missed by her family, friends, former educational colleagues, and the local community. Her burial service will be held at Ft Myers Memorial Gardens, 1589 Colonial Blvd., Ft Myers on Saturday, April 16th at 11 a.m. This outdoors celebration calls for casual dress (black attire, ties and coats are not necessary). In lieu of flowers please make a donation to our local Salvation Army, Disabled American Veterans or American Cancer Society.