Nancy Mullins
Nancy Marie Mullins was born March 14, 1941 in Hot Sulphur Springs, Colorado to Homer and Ina Killillay. She entered into the Kingdom of Heaven August 15, 2020 in Springfield, Missouri surrounded by family.
She married young and had three beautiful children; Holly Bower, Natalie Tilley, and Joe Tollen. On May 14, 1990, she married the love of her life, Earvin Roy Mullins in Harrison, Arkansas.
She was an active member of First Baptist Church Nixa, Missouri, for over 35 years. She loved traveling, meeting new people, eating out, camping with family and all dogs.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Homer and Ina Killillay, a sister-in-law, Anna Lou Killillay, a great granddaughter, Frankielynn Tollen, and beloved dog, Mr. Montana.
She is survived by her husband Roy, brother Larry (Joan) Killillay, children Holly (Euill) Bower, Natalie (Kenneth) Tilley, Joe (Sheila) Tollen, grandchildren and great grandchildren, lifetime friend Carol Tincombe, a host of family in Oklahoma City, and her beloved dog Foxy.
A celebration of life will be on Saturday, August 22, 2020 at First Baptist Nixa at 2pm with Gordon Dawley officiating.
My forever friend,
As I look back over the 72 years I have known Nancy, I think to myself how very lucky I have been to have had a friend like her. We were 7 years old when we met in 2nd grade. I was born March 3, 1941 and she was born was born March 14, 1941, how about that just 11 days apart. We had a connection right from the start. She had friends she shared with me, she had such a loving way about her. Her Mom, Dad, Brother and Nancy made me feel like I had a second home, where I was always welcome. In school she was so smart that it seemed easy for her, while I had a hard time just trying to keep up; she made me feel like I was smarter than I gave myself credit for. We had fun going to get hot fudge sundaes, cherry and vanilla Cokes, and root beer floats at A&W. As teenagers we sat watching & flirting with workers pouring concrete on Federal Blvd., laughing and giggling like teenage girls do. In 6th grade we dressed up for Halloween in homemade Pirate costumes, we thought we looked so cute! She walked me to school most mornings, until she got married at a young age; but we were just as close as we had always been as best friends, nothing would ever change that. She had her cute little baby girl Holly two years after she was married, and my Mom and I had the baby shower for her. When Holly was about 3 months old, we took her with us to the drive-in movies, so now the two of us became the three of us. I got married and had a baby girl, and Nancy had another baby girl, my Ruthie and Nancy’s Natalie became friends and still are. I had a baby girl, Donna, and Nancy had a baby boy, Joe, poor Joe was outnumbered by all the girls, and Ruthie said Joe was their favorite shadow, as he followed her and Natalie ever where. Nancy and her family moved to Hawaii and we kept in touch via the US Mail and I still have every Christmas card and Birthday card that Nancy faithfully sent me. And when they moved back to Colorado, they moved into a house across the street from us, which made me so very happy. Then they moved to a Craftsman home on Pearl St., we still spent time together for coffee, lunch and summer fun days. Nancy moved to Arkansas, and we lost touch for several years until Natalie found my Husband’s obituary online and reached out to my Daughter Ruthie, and from there we reconnected once again and have kept in touch ever since. My two Daughters have always called my best friend Aunt Nancy as her three kids called me Aunt Carol, we were a family we picked for ourselves, miles and years couldn’t keep us apart and neither can Heaven and Earth. Nan, you are forever my bestest friend, and I so look forward to the time we will see each other again in the house of our Lord, save a place for me right next to you. Love as always Carol.
Holly, Natalie, Joe, Larry and Roy, my heart is with you all during this difficult time, and I will keep you in my prayers. I am here if you want to talk. Love and hugs, Aunt Carol.
For almost 60 years you have been my Aunt Nancy, that is the only way I have ever known you. You were the one who rode us around in your VW Bug, and let us ride in the Pooka (the space at the rear window), and then when we got to be bigger kids you got the VW Bus, and that was a lot of fun. I remember going to your house so that you and Mom could talk and visit for hours on end, while me and Natalie played, roller skated and rode our bicycles at the tennis court, and then coming in when you said lunch was ready, it was Underwood Deviled Ham sandwich with potato chips and a whole sweet pickle. And all the fun we had when you and Mom would take us kids to the drive-in movies, blankets, Kool-Aid, sandwiches and chips, Space Bars for dessert, trips to the zoo and the history museum, or just picnics in the park. I loved your giggle, and your cute style of sleeveless button down shirts with your shorts and white Keds tennis shoes, and your short, sassy, pixie style hair cut, and man did you have the greatest smile….and the look “That Look” when you were not happy with one of us kids, we knew to be quiet and sit down, it would go easier on us if we noticed “That Look”, but honestly, I respected you, and didn’t want you to be mad or disappointed in us. Thanks for the memories and for being my dear sweet Aunt Nancy. Heaven got a beautiful Angel, and you left your beautiful mark on this world and on all of us who knew you. Love Ruthie
Natalie, Holly, Joe and family,
My heart is with each of you, and I will keep you in my prayers. May you be surrounded in love and endless memories of your precious Mom.