May "Mary" Ethel Mullen

Mary Mullen, retired teacher and musician, passed from this life to eternal life on Wednesday, September 20, 2023 at 3:45 a.m., in Keller, TX., after a long illness. At her request, there will not be a memorial or funeral service.

Mary was born October 28, 1931 in Jamaica, NY (borough of Brooklyn), the daughter of Paul Arthur Christen and Amelia Youmans Christen. She spend her childhood years sometimes with her parents, sometimes with her extended family. Her parents eventually moved to Wyandanch, NY, and she then attended Lindenhurst High School, graduating in 1949.

Mary began working for the telephone company, then moved into a position with Grumman Aircraft, where her father and her brother Otto worked. She married Otto’s best friend, William Howard Mullen, Sr., and had three sons: William Howard (Bill) Mullen, Jr., and twin sons Paul Arthur Mullen and Robert Peter (Bob) Mullen.

Mary was a stay-at-home mother for several years, helping as needed with Mullen Brother’s Construction Company. In the mid-1960s, she worked as a Cafeteria Aide at Taukomas Elementary School, returning to college to earn a Bachelors’ Degree from Adelphi University and a Master’s Degree from Dowling College. She began teaching in the Wyandanch Union Free School District, mostly at Milton L. Olive Junior High. After being injured in a riot at one of the schools, Mary moved on to teaching at St. Joseph Catholic School in Babylon, NY.

After the death of her husband in 1975, Mary moved her family in 1976 to South Venice, FL. She taught 5th grade at Englewood (FL) Elementary school for several years. A serious health crisis in 1982 led to her being away from education for several years. She eventually returned to teaching in LaBelle, FL, then in Moore Haven, FL. Her excellence in teaching led to her being named SW Florida Teacher of the Year in 1990.

After leaving Moore Haven in 1992, Mary tutored in the Reading Lab at State College of Florida—Sarasota County for several years until her retirement in her early 70s.

Mary was active for over 30 years as a Bass Clarinetist in several community bands along the Florida Gulf Coast. She helped reorganize, played with, and was President and Librarian of the North Port Concert Band for several years. Mary also played alto and tenor recorder, playing with and leading several recorder ensembles.

After Hurricane Ian severely damaged her son Bill’s home in September 2022, Mary and her son Paul lived in North Richland Hills, TX with her son Bob and his wife Terri. This allowed her time to be with her four grandchildren, which they all treasured.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Paul & Amelia Christen, her brother Otto Christen & his wife June (Mary’s best friend), her infant brother Paul Christen, her husband William Howard Mullen, Sr., her nephew Ronald A. Christen, and her daughter-in-law Maryann Mullen.

Mary is survived by son William Howard Mullen, Jr., son Paul Arthur Mullen, & son Robert Peter Mullen (wife Terrilynne); by four granddaughters— Sarah Elizabeth Hamilton (husband Shane), Anna Marie Mullen, Kristen Terry Sultemeier (husband Jaron), & Deborah Clair Mullen; by niece, Carol Ann Scheu, and nieces-in-law, Ruth Peretz (husband Dennis) & Carol DiGiovanni.