Milford Eugene (Gene) Mullins 1939-- 2015Milford Eugene (Gene) Mullins, 75, passed away at his home in Marlin on Tuesday, March 10.Funeral services will be 2:00 PM, Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Adams Funeral Home, 129 Coleman Street in Marlin, with Reverend Clement Gordon officiating. Interment will be 2:00PM Friday, March 13, 2015 in Willow Cemetery in Haskell, Texas, with his longtime friend, John Sam Rike, conducting the service. Military honors will be provided by Fort Hood Honor Guard. The family will receive family and friends from 5:00PM to 7:00PM on Wednesday, March 11, 2015 at Adams Funeral Home. Mr. Mullins was born on September 23, 1939 in Compton, Calif., to Freeman Mullins and Bessie Patterson Mullins. Gene was nicknamed "Stick" in his hometown of Haskell, Texas, where he was a well-known football and track star, graduating Haskell High School in 1959. After graduation, Gene enlisted in the United States Army and served until 1973. He achieved the rank of Sergeant First Class, and his service included a tour in France, two tours in Vietnam and assorted stateside assignments. He volunteered for his second tour in Vietnam (as a Team Chief Assignments SFC for the Dept. of the Army at the Pentagon) because he couldn't abide sending others to war while he stayed back. Mr. Mullins received the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in ground operations against hostile forces, six Army Commendation Medals, five Good Conduct Medals, the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medals, and a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device. During his time in the service, he met and married Bertha Estevez, who was also serving in France. They were blessed with two sons, Lance in 1970 and Stuart in 1975. Gene and Bertha separated in 1979 and divorced shortly thereafter.Gene put himself through college at Texas State University with the help of the GI Bill, graduated with highest honors and then began a new chapter in his life as a Texas high school teacher and coach. He coached football teams at New Braunfels High School in 1978, Navasota High School in 1979-81, Marlin High School in 1981-82 and again in Navasota 1982-89. He was fortunate to coach with outstanding staffs, teams and players and almost yearly entered post season play. His teams reached semi-finals state championships several times. The final game he coached was for the Texas State 3A Football Championship in 1988. During Gene's coaching stint in Marlin, he married Beth Wasserman Kirkpatrick, who taught English and Journalism at Marlin High School. Together Gene and Beth enjoyed a life centered around high school activities in Marlin and Navasota. Students remember Gene for his sense of humor, making Government and Economics classes fun, where he included such mantras as "There's no such thing as a free ham sandwich."In 1991, Gene suffered the loss of his oldest son Lance in a horrific car accident involving most of the University of Texas San Antonio golf team who were hit by a drunk driver on the way home from a tournament. Soon after, Gene retired from coaching and began writing fiction to ease his heart. His love of history, especially the lore of his native north Texas area culminated in historical western adventures. A creative storyteller and humorist, Mullins had a real knack for writing dialog. He published "Dog Bark" and "Bear Paw," two of his five novels, and was inducted into the Western Writers of America and Texas Historical Society in 1994. Gene conducted writing seminars at the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock and throughout Texas and in Boulder, Colo. Throughout his life, Gene was an avid golfer and you could find him most afternoons and weekends with his sons and friends at the nearest courses. He enjoyed the Waco Senior Golf League and membership at the Marlin Country Club. He won the Cottonwood Creek Waco City Senior Championship in 1998 and collected numerous other tournament wins throughout the state. Gene loved to rescue homeless animals of any kind, especially cats and dogs. He rescued numerous cats and dogs as well as some injured wild animals throughout his life, and he loved providing food and shelter for all creatures at his home in Marlin. He leaves behind seven beloved dogs who became his therapy and constant companions during his extended illness. Gene was pre-deceased by his son Lance, his parents, brother Clint Melton and sister-in-law Wynette Mullins.Survivors include his wife of 33 years:;Charlotte Beth Mullins of Marlin; son Stuart Mullins of San Antonio; his daughters and sons-in-law, Kara and John Kenny of Austin and Katherine and James Stone of Pilot Point, TX; granddaughter Chloe Mullins of San Antonio; granddaughter Kristen Kenny of Fort Worth and grandson Matthew Kenny of Austin; brother Franky Don Mullins and wife, Gaynell of Sweetwater; sister and brother-in law Myrtis Marie Mullins Ivey and LB Ivey of Haskell; brother Ben Melton of San Angelo and numerous nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers are sons-in-law; John Kenny and James Stone, grandson; Matthew Kenny, and golfing buddies; Johnnie Felps, Weldon Josey, and Fred Tomchesson of Waco, and Weldon Reneau, Tommy Tate and Rockney Terry of Marlin. For anyone wishing to make a memorial donation in Gene Mullins' honor, the family suggests the Marlin Public Library (400 Oakes St., Marlin, TX 76661), The Allen House (c/o Byrleen Terry, 753 Westwood, Marlin), Alzheimer's Association (6605 Sanger Ave., Waco, TX 76710) or the Haskell Homecoming Association (P. O. Box 32 Haskell, TX 79521).The Mullins family is grateful for the compassionate care shown by the staff of Hospice Compassus during the final days of Gene's life on earth and to the wonderful "Angels" from Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services who have assisted in his care for several months.