Muriel Anne Mullikin

On June 25, 2024, Muriel Mullikin joined her Heavenly Father.  Muriel Anne Grisell was born on December 28, 1934, to Steven Albert and Muriel Luella (Hindman) Grisell. 

She was the youngest child and adored her older brother and sister, who also adored their mischievous youngest sister. She would recount stories of how her sister Donna would lend her a coat to wear, and Muriel would perform a quick alteration to transform it to her size. Muriel was a talented seamstress, making clothes for herself, her children, and eventually her granddaughter’s dolls.

Muriel attended Emporia High School where she met the love of her life, Russell Mullikin. When he returned from the Korean War where he served in the Navy, they married on August 7, 1953. They originally lived in California, where Russell claimed that Muriel would be convinced by down-on-their-luck door-to-door salesmen to buy things that they didn’t need, and that their budget wouldn’t cover. Russell and Muriel would soon return to Kansas and raise three children.

Russell’s banking career took them all over Kansas, and Muriel became adept at making each new house feel just like home. Her style carried over from house decoration to clothing, and together they made a stylish pair. Muriel was very crafty and would often have holiday art projects for her grandchildren to work on and display. She would find antique frames and rehab them for display in her house, adding to the feeling of home that she took with her to each town. She was an excellent cook, but also would keep store-bought favorites on hand in case her grandchildren wanted to have a honeybun warmed up with a little butter on top. For holidays and birthdays, Muriel would always give at least one beautifully wrapped “wrappy-up gift” and include delightfully witty poems that she wrote into birthday and graduation cards. Muriel liked to dance, and her children recall learning to do the twist in the living room with Muriel and her sister, Donna.

Muriel was a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, and nothing would make her happier than a visit from Eli and Eve. Despite the distance, she traveled out to Pennsylvania where Eli was born just to meet him. She would don bunny ears over her perfectly coiffed hair to make them smile. She would make baked treats for her great-grandchildren, and when they saw Papa coming up the drive, they knew that some Mee-maw cookies were headed their way. Neighborhood children called her cupcakes “Russ cakes” because Muriel would make them, and Russell would deliver them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Donna Johns; her brother, Dean Grisell; and her beloved husband of 66 years, Russell Mullikin.

She is survived by her children, Laurie (Stan) Pierson, Michael Mullikin, and Patrick Mullikin; her grandchildren, Belinda Pierson, Stefanie (Rick) Gostautas, and Adam (Taryn) Pierson; and her great-grandchildren, Eli and Eve Gostautas.

Celebration of Life Services will be held 1:00 P.M., Friday, July 12, 2024, at Wickham Family Funeral Home, 216 East 4th, 

Cherryvale, Kansas 67335. Inurnment will follow the service at Fairview Cemetery in Cherryvale.