Thomas Mullin

Thomas Wayne Mullin, 53, of Afton, Oklahoma, passed away peacefully Thursday, May 16, 2019, after a year-long battle with cancer.  This husband, father, son, and brother was born on Sept. 11, 1965, in Newport, Rhode Island. As the “Navy Brat” son of Jim and Patti Mullin, Tom lived in Texas, Connecticut, Maryland, and Arizona before enlisting himself. He served six years in the Navy as a machinist mate and through WestPac traveled to ports like Oahu, Hawaii; Subic Bay, Philippines; and Perth, Australia. In 1989, Tom married Vanessa Sekula and relocated with their three children to Afton, Okla. In his 29 years at the DuPont Protein Plant (formerly Solae) in Pryor, Oklahoma, Tom proved to be a natural teacher and leader. He worked as a site training specialist and process hazard analysis leader. He also served as a contributor to the process safety management (PSM) program. Tom was a loyal friend and a dedicated family man who always put others first. Despite his shy, reserved persona, Tom would talk up a storm if on the right subject, such as politics, the economy, and technology. He loved NASCAR, the Washington Redskins, and the Boston Red Sox. Tom was an avid collector of Hot Wheels, baseball cards, movies, music, and stamps. Known for his dry sense of humor, Tom enjoyed pulling a good prank.  His generous, kind spirit will be deeply missed.

A celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at 11:00 am in the Shipman’s Funeral Home Chapel with Michael P. McChurin officiating. To leave his family a message, please visit his Tribute Wall at www.shipmansfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Shipman’s Funeral & Cremation Service.

Tom is survived by his wife of 29 years Vanessa Mullin of Afton; daughters Amanda Harding and husband Craig of Vista, California and Kristi McChurin and husband Mike of Afton; son Gary Sinclair and wife Courtney of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and ten grandchildren – Thomas Shelby, Olivia and Brittany Dow, Kelly Harding, Jerimiah Borton, Morgan LaBatt, Adam and Britny McChurin, Gage and Charlie Sinclair;  his parents Jim and Patti Mullin of Cleora, Oklahoma; and sisters Melissa Mullin of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Tammie (Ford) Gurnery of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Tom was preceded in death by his sister Tina (Mullin) Steen and grandparents John and Aggie DuPonte.