Obit of Mullen, Minnie - Washita County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 29 Nov 2009 Return to Washita County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/washita/washita.html ===================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm ===================================================================== ::Moore Mausoleum--Arlington TX Mullen, Minnie Minnie Lee Mullen, 87, retired co-owner of the Inola-Adair (Oklahoma) Telephone Company, a great-grandmother, grandmother and mother, died Friday, Nov. 3, 2006, in Fort Worth. Funeral and entombment: 1 p.m. Monday at Moore Funeral Home and Mausoleum, 1219 N. Davis Drive, Arlington. Mrs. Mullen was born Minnie Lee Simpkins in Sentinel, Okla., on Sept. 17, 1919. She attended schools in Sentinel and Bowlegs, Okla., graduated from Bowlegs High School and attended East Central State College of Oklahoma. On June 15, 1940, she married Orlin H. "Kayo" Mullen in Pryor, Okla. Together they bought the Inola Telephone Company from Minnie Lee's father, James Bertie Simpkins, expanding and operating the company for 25 years. In the early years of their telephone business, in addition to serving as vice president and treasurer of the telephone company, Mrs. Mullen served as a switchboard operator, billing clerk and anything else required to make the business work. In the early years she also operated a beauty shop. During this time in Inola their children were born and reared. Minnie Lee was a founding member of the Independent Telephone Pioneer Association of Oklahoma and was president of the Ladies Association. Mrs. Mullen was also secretary-treasurer of the second district Democratic Party of Oklahoma for four years. In addition to her dedication to their family business, Minnie Lee was a founding organizer of the Inola School Systems Parent Teacher Association; plus, she was very active in the Eastern Star Chapter of Claremore, Okla., where she served as worthy matron. Minnie Lee and Kayo moved to Stillwater, Okla., in 1982 and later moved to Arlington in 1993. Kayo died in Arlington in 2000. Survivors: Son, Orlin Mullen of Chester, Md.; daughter, Mary Bruce of Arlington; son, J.B. Mullen of Irving; grandchildren, Stephanie Burris of Arlington, Sydney Podraza of Queen Annes, Md., Garrett Mullen of Pontoon Beach, Mo., John Mullen of McKinney and James Mullen of Fort Worth; nine great-grandchildren. Published in the Star-Telegram on 11/5/2006. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Washita County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/washita/washita.html