Obituary: Mullenix, Larry
Age 81
He was born February 24, 1934, in Cheney, Washington, one of nine children in the family of Earl and Helen Mullenix.
Larry grew up in the Garland area of Spokane and attended North Central High School.
He described his youth as rather adventurous and entertained his children with stories that closely resembled those of the “Bowery Boys.”
Larry was an avid athlete; he played football, basketball and baseball.
He even had a tryout with a professional baseball team.
At the age of 18, Larry met his future wife, Nancy Aucutt, and started work at Inland Meats as a truck driver.
He and Nancy began a life together that included raising four children and creating a vibrant business.
During the next fifteen years Larry moved from truck driver, to driver/salesman, to vice-president, to president and then to owner of Inland Meats.
He expanded the business, built a new processing plant, and provided employment for many, including family members.
Larry was a member of the Manito Golf Club and the Spokane Club.
He and Nancy owned a lake home on Bead Lake from 1967 to 1990, where they enjoyed entertaining friends and family.
Every January, he and Nancy would flee the Pacific Northwest cold for Maui, joining their good friends Bill and Lorraine Milne, and basking in the Hawaiian sunshine.
In 1989, Larry retired from Inland Meats, and then he and Nancy bought 10 acres of land in Green Bluff, Washington, where they built their dream home.
Larry put his considerable gardening talents to work and built a three-hole golf course on his property, to the delight of his family and friends.
Larry and Nancy loved entertaining their growing family at their Green Bluff home, and their ten grandchildren cherished time spent at Nana’s and Papa’s.
In 2000 Larry bought a lake home at Twin Lakes in Inchelium, Washington for the family.
He had fished that lake with his father, and took pleasure watching his children and grandchildren fishing the same lake he enjoyed with his dad.
During this time, Nancy was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Larry provided unfailing and loving care and support for her as the disease progressed.
At the time of her death, Larry and Nancy had been married for 57 years.
In his later years, Larry continued an active life.
He enjoyed golfing, spending the winters in his home in Arizona, and hosting parties for his family.
Larry is survived by his children Michelle (Pat) Lippert, Mike Mullenix, Dan (Cindy) Mullenix, and Chuck (Elaine) Mullenix, ten grandchildren, Rachael, Adrienne, Michael, Megan, Troy, Marc, Adam, James, Jacob and Taylor, and nine great-grandchildren.
He is survived by four siblings, Betty Gallagher, John Mullenix, Judy Little, and Mary Manum.
He is also survived by his loving friend, Shirley Foien.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife Nancy, a great-grandson Trevin Lippert, and four of his siblings, Robert Mullenix, Ed Mullenix, Erline Bourcy and Glenna Hunt.
Please join the family in a celebration of Larry’s life at 3:00 PM, Monday, October 19th at St. John Vianney Catholic Church.
503 N. Walnut, Spokane Valley.
To view Larry’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.