Dorothy "Dottie" Elaine Mullen

Dorothy (Dottie) Mullen, 95, of Lubbock, Texas and formerly from Big Spring, Texas died March 14, 2024 in Lubbock, Texas. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, March 18th @10:30 am, at Christ the King Cathedral, Lubbock, Texas, Burial will be at Resthaven Memorial Park. Rosary will be Sunday, March 17th @ 4:00pm at Sanders Funeral Home. Dottie was born to Wallace "Bruce" and Mary Andrade Fletcher in Oakland, California on September 27, 1928. She spent her childhood on her family's home farm/ranch in Hanford, California. As a young teenager, she began to attend school in San Francisco, as mother wanted her to have a Catholic education, and this began a lifelong connection to Catholic education for her. She attended and graduated with her high school diploma from The San Domenico School in San Rafael, California, in 1947. She continued her education with the Dominican Sisters by attending and graduating from San Francisco College for Women (Lone Mountain College) in 1951, with a degree in Sociology While at Lone Mountain, a college friend set her up on a blind date with her brother, Tom Mullen and thus the love story began. She married Thomas "Tom" Robert Mullen on February 9, 1952 (the same day he graduated from the Air Force pilot training school in Lubbock, Texas.) They were married for 60 years prior to his death in 2012. From the day she married until the death of her husband she was a devoted Air Force wife, serving alongside her husband during his 22-year military career. This meant moving often, as there were assignments in Texas, California, Idaho and an overseas assignment to England, where her husband was a Royal Air Force Exchange Officer. Her husband served in Vietnam and she kept everything going while he was gone, including the love and care of 5 children. There were five children born of this union, Patrick, Tom, Mary, Shannon and Anne. She started working as a social worker in Hanford, California until she married. When her children grew older she worked at the Big Spring State Hospital as a unit social worker for over 10 years, retiring in 1983. Soon after her retirement, she joined a water aerobics class in Big Spring and was faithful in her attendance for over 25 years till she and her husband moved to Lubbock in 2006. She took up golf in her late 50's and loved to play with husband. They began to travel, mainly by cruise ship to places where they could play golf. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a family cruise to Alaska with children and grandchildren along, and have traveled to many locations all over the world. Spending their days on the high seas was one of their joys of growing old. Her life was devoted to her family and her faith. She spent time in prayer each day, including praying the rosary daily. She passed along the belief in the power of pray to her children and grandchildren. This gave her peace and comfort her whole life and, she got great joy from praying for and with her family. Dottie is survived by all of her children, Sons, Patrick Mullen (Dana) of Montgomery, Texas; Tom Mullen (Sonja) of Lubbock Texas. Daughters, Mary Longmire of Lubbock, Texas; Shannon Nabors Williams (Paul), of Crystal Beach, Texas and Anne Mullen of Lubbock. Grandchildren - Tom Mullen (Ali Luempert) of Lubbock, Texas, Marianne Mullen (Landon Stevens) of Annapolis, Maryland and Evan Nabors (Stephanie) of Eureka, California. Her sister, Phyllis Kelly (Jerry) of San Diego, California and sister in law, Ann Hirsh of Walnut Creek, California. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, grandson, James Fletcher Mullen, and son in law Pat Longmire. In honor of her long-time support of Catholic Education, memorials can be made to Christ the King Cathedral School ( www.ctkschoollbk.org) or Vison of Hope (www.visionofhope.org)

Dorothy "Dottie" Elaine Mullen

September 27, 1928 - March 14, 2024