B. F. Mullen

Mrs. B. F. (Billie Fern) Mullen, age 87, passed on to her home with her heavenly father on Tuesday evening, September 29, 2015, at the Circle of Life Hospice Home in Springdale where she had been for eight days. For the past several months, she had been a resident at Walnut Grove Nursing Home in Springdale. A few years ago, Mrs. Mullen closed her home and moved to Springdale where her granddaughter, Celeste Wheeler, was a resident. Mrs. Mullen was born at Louisville, Arkansas on November 16, 1927 to William and Fern Turnley. She later moved to Greenville, Mississippi where she graduated from high school. After high school, she attended Mississippi State University where she met her loving husband of 54 years, Graham P. Mullen, who passed on to his maker in December of 2001. In 1952, the Mullen family moved to Des Arc where they made their permanent home. Mrs. Mullen graduated from Harding College at Searcy and began her 30-year-plus teaching career at Des Arc High School where she taught English and Spanish. She received her Masters in Spanish from UCA in Conway. She served as sponsor of the Spanish Club at Des Arc High School, where she not only taught the language but also introduced her students to the culture of Latin America. The club members took many trips over the years but the Cinco de Mayo trips to San Antonio were always a treat for everyone. She ended her teaching career at Cotton Plant where she taught English and Spanish for five years before retiring. An avid golfer, Mrs. Mullen had memberships at the Brinkley and Grand Prairie Country Clubs for many years. She was involved in numerous organizations over the years and was an active member of Delta Kappa Gamma teachers society, the Prairie County Democratic Committee, and served a number of years as an officer in the Prairie County AARP Chapter. A dedicated conservationist, she served as State President, Regional President and National President of the Conservation Districts Ladies Auxiliary. She also sponsored the annual Conservation Poster Contest. Many posters from this area won on both the state and national level. Mrs. Mullen enjoyed working in her yard and was involved with the Prairie County Master Gardeners group. She was a member of the Grand Prairie DAR Chapter. She loved to travel with her husband and over the years they toured Europe, Russia, South America, and Canada. They especially enjoyed train travel and some of their fondest memories were on their train tours. They always kept diaries which are continuing to provide memories of their activities for her family. rs. Mullen and husband, Graham were dedicated members of the First Presbyterian Church in Des Arc for many years until it's closing in 2008. While a member at First Presbyterian, she served as a Sunday School teacher, Deacon and Elder. When the church closed, she moved her letter to the First United Methodist Church in Des Arc. While in Springdale, she attended the First Presbyterian Church with Celeste and her family. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her youngest child, a son, Kevin. Survivors include her son, Patrick Mullen and wife, Lisa, of Des Arc and their two daughters, Beth Ann Tollison and husband, Taylor, of Cookeville, Tenn. and son, Avett, and Tricia Lee Ginn and husband, Tyler, of Marion Ark.; daughter, Paddy Branham and husband, Rick, of Austin, Arkansas and children, Scott Crain and wife, Kristitin of Maryville, Tenn. and their children, Stephanie, Graham and William and Celeste Wheeler and husband, Donnie, of Springdale and their children, Coleman, Benjamin and Truman; a younger sister, Ann Morgan of Maryville, Tennessee and her children, Kim, Kyle, and Kandyce. Friends will be received by the family at Garth Funeral Home in Des Arc on Saturday, October 3 at 1 p.m. followed by funeral services at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Donnie and Coleman Wheeler, Scott and Graham Crain, Taylor Tollison and Tyler Ginn. Memorials may be made to a charity or church of your choice.