Obituary of Perry E. Mullis

Bedford – Perry E. Mullis, 91, of Bedford, passed away at 6:01 am on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at Stonebridge Health Campus. Born April 5, 1933, in Springville, he was the son of Everett and Mildred Viola (McDowell) Mullis. He married Elsie Kathryn Gerkin on October 15, 1950, and she preceded him in death on June 24, 2015. He was a graduate of Bedford High School with the class of 1950. In 1966, he was selected as Bedford’s Outstanding Young Man. In 1973, he was elected President of the Bedford Chamber of Commerce. He was owner/operator of Mullis Petroleum, which was founded in 1954, and Mullis Distributors. He would have celebrated seventy years in October. He was a long-time member of the Bedford Free Methodist Church where he served as Sunday School Teacher and youth leader for many years. He was a past president of the Bedford Lions Club, the North Lawrence School Board and was a member of the Indiana School Board Assoc. In 1982, Perry was awarded inclusion in the Book of Golden Deeds and in 1990, he was the winner of the Chamber Community Service Award. An article in the Bedford Times-Mail at that time noted Mullis was one of the original members of the North Lawrence Community School Board and had served as president of the Bedford Area Chamber of Commerce and the Lions Club. He was instrumental in establishing the North Lawrence schools as an appointed school board member, Mullis was elected to several additional terms. He was a founding member of the Bedford North Lawrence Scholarship Foundation and served on the board for 50 years. He was also active in numerous civic organizations. Survivors include six sons, Terry Mullis and wife, Georgann, Michael Mullis, Tim Mullis and wife, Pat, David Mullis and wife, Libby, Brian Mullis and wife, Lynn, Kevin Mullis and wife, Wendi; grandchildren, Katie Kresser and husband, Todd, Isaiah Mullis and wife, Mendy, Brady Mullis and wife, Casey, Aimee Peddie, Jason Mullis and wife, Aimee, Dana Reed and husband, Jim, Christopher Mullis and wife, Jennifer, Nicholas Mullis, Dustin Lannan and wife, Erin, Jessica Payne and husband, Rob, Patrick Mullis and wife, Kristina, Nancy Paledino and husband, Sam, Adam Mullis and wife, Christie, Brittany Osterhage and husband, Michael, Joshua Mullis and wife, Laci; 34 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Jerry Mullis and wife, Denise; a sister, Carol Taha; several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and a daughter-in-law, Leslie Mullis. Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 14th at the Free Methodist Church in Bedford with Pastor Reed Beard and Pastor Adam Strauser officiating. Burial will follow in Cresthaven Memory Gardens. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, September 13th and from 10:00 am until the hour of service on Saturday all at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to BNL Scholarship Foundation in memory of Perry & Elsie Mullis. Family and friends may express condolences at www.daycarter.com.