William "Buddy" Mullens

Oct. 13, 1961 - June 6, 2020

Posted 6/8/20

William “Buddy” Mullens was born on October 13, 1961 in Robstown, Texas to Hyman Mullens and Billie Ruth Wiley Mullens.  He grew up in Corpus Christi, where he first developed a …

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William "Buddy" Mullens

Oct. 13, 1961 - June 6, 2020

Posted

William “Buddy” Mullens was born on October 13, 1961 in Robstown, Texas to Hyman Mullens and Billie Ruth Wiley Mullens.  He grew up in Corpus Christi, where he first developed a lifetime love of saltwater fishing and hanging out on the beach.  In 1980, Buddy graduated from Carroll High School, in Corpus Christi, where he was voted Most Popular Guy of his senior class.  He quickly moved to Houston to live with his sister, Peggy, and start a summer job.  He worked at several places, including working for awhile in the electronics department at Joske’s, a department store which later became a Dillard’s Store.  In 1985, at a Joske’s employee get-together, Buddy met and fell in love with Sharon Bush, a friend of a fellow Joske’s employee.  He married Sharon Faye Bush on April 11, 1987 in the First Baptist Church, in Sharon’s hometown of Devine, Texas.  They lived in Houston for a couple of years before moving to Katy in 1989.

In 1990, Buddy and Sharon’s lives were forever changed with the loss of their first-born child, Steven Tyler Mullens.  It was through this painful loss, they met two men who would have a tremendous impact on their life’s journey.  They joined First Baptist Church, in Katy, where they met Senior Pastor Dr. Charles Wisdom, whom they would quickly come to love and respect.  They also met M.H. “Hank” Schmidt, Jr., owner of Schmidt Funeral Home, in Katy, who cared for their son.  It was because of the manner in which Hank cared for their family that Buddy returned months later to inquire about becoming a funeral director.  Buddy wanted to care for others who were hurting from the loss of a loved one.  He began his career at Schmidt Funeral Home that same year.  He graduated from Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service, in Houston.   He obtained his Funeral Director license and Embalmer license in 1992.   Buddy had tremendous respect for Hank, who mentored him throughout Buddy’s career and became a lifelong friend.  Buddy was very compassionate and caring to the thousands of Katy families he served over his 30-year career at Schmidt Funeral Home.  He was hard working and committed to providing the utmost professional care.  He got to know many pastors and all the different funeral preferences of each of the churches in our community, how they wanted to process in and out of the church, where exactly to place the casket, which pews to seat the family and so much more.  To Buddy, the details mattered.  He had an incredible memory and could remember funeral details and the families he served from years ago.  He would also become the mentor for many coming into the profession, including the one he was most proud to mentor, his son Jordan.  Early on Buddy tried to persuade Jordan away from the funeral business, mostly because of the long hours and being torn between his own passion to serving a grieving family, which always came above spending time with his own family such as missed birthdays, holidays or his kids’ sporting events and activities.  However, just as his father, Jordan felt called to serve families.  Buddy was most proud of the Funeral Director and Embalmer Jordan has become.

While those who worked with Buddy may at times have seen him as a bit hardheaded or his old school thinking of “my way or the highway” mentality, they all had great respect for him. Now, it was not all work, all the time.  Buddy was quick witted, had a dry sense of humor, could easily make you laugh, and was quite the master prankster often to his co-worker victims.  It was all in fun and there were many laughs when working with Buddy.  He had a unique and memorable laugh.  He was good at giving well earned praise, as well as a glaring eye and crooked brow if you messed up.  He was always there if you needed a little encouragement or advice.

Over the last 30 years, he could often be seen tending to a grave or setting a monument at Katy Magnolia Cemetery.  He knew that cemetery well and would help the Katy V.F.W. Post 9182 volunteers with the placing of the flags for Memorial Day and more recently with the placement of wreaths at Christmas time.  The Katy V.F.W. Post 9182 honored Buddy with the Commanders’ Medal in 2016 for his dedication, patriotism and selfless service to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He loved watching football and baseball.  He listened faithfully to all the latest sports news on AM sports talk radio.  He was an avid fan of the Houston Texans and the Houston Astros.  He always recorded Texan games while he worked to enjoy later.  His co-workers quickly learned not to let a score or outcome slip before he got to watch the recording.  While Michelle attended the University of Texas San Antonio, he was a fan of UT; but found it quite difficult when she transferred to Texas A&M.  He might show “gig em,” but he refused to wear maroon, in spite of his tremendous pride in Michelle’s accomplishment.  For several years, he loved bowling in a local league.  He was a huge fan of the TV show Family Feud.  He also remained a faithful servant of God at Katy’s First Baptist Church.

Buddy was a loving and supportive father.  He coached sports for his kids and could often be seen standing along the fence line, courtside or down the sideline watching whatever sport Jordan or Michelle were playing.  Buddy had an amazing intuition of things to come.  He was generous and big hearted.   He was often just plain goofy and fun to be around.  He was humble and wasn’t one to draw attention to himself though he did many wonderful and caring deeds.  Buddy loved spending time with his wife and kids, especially on getaways to Port Aransas or Galveston to fish or just relax on the beach.  His newest passion was spending time with Miss P, his granddaughter Parker.

William “Buddy” Mullens passed away surrounded by the love of his family on Saturday, June 6, 2020 in Houston, Texas after a brief illness unrelated to Covid-19.  He was 58 years of age.

He is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Sharon Mullens of Katy; son, Jordan Mullens and his fiancé Lizz Calderon of Katy; daughter, Michelle Mullens of Katy; his beloved granddaughter, Parker Mullens; his sisters, Mary Ann Huffman and her husband Richard of San Antonio, Gail McCrary and her husband Bruce of Houston and Peggy Beene and her husband Andy of San Antonio; sister-in-law, Debbie Beadle and her husband Zack of Devine, Texas; and many nieces and nephews; as well as many other loving family member and many friends.

He was preceded in death by a son, Steven Tyler Mullens; his parents, Hyman Mullens and Billie Ruth Wiley Mullens; and a brother-in-law, Jimmie Jeansonne.

The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at the Schmidt Funeral Home Grand Parkway Chapel, in Katy.  Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 11, 2020 at Katy’s First Baptist Church, with Dr. Charles Wisdom, Rev. Coleman Philley, and Rev. Steve Littlefield officiating.  Interment in Katy Magnolia Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Jordan Mullens, Brandon Beadle, Keith Beadle, Kevin Beadle, Ben McCrary, Chris McCrary, Milton H. “Trey” Schmidt, III, and Chris Henderson.

Honorary pallbearers will be M.H. “Hank” Schmidt, Jr., Tommy Dixon, Jim Foster, and Mike Kelly.

Those wishing to make memorial gifts may do so to Katy’s First Baptist Church, 600 Pin Oak Road, Katy, Texas  77494, www.KatysFirst.org.

To express condolences, please visit www.SchmidtFuneralHome.net.

Funeral services held under the direction of:

Schmidt Funeral Home
1344 W. Grand Parkway South -  Katy, Texas  77494  -  (281) 391-2424

William Mullens, William "Buddy" Mullens, Schmidt Funeral Home