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In memory of

Viola Pearl Mullins

Centralia, WA

December 12, 1925 - October 17, 2015

Dec 12, 1925 - Oct 17, 2015

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Viola Pearl (Carlile) Mullins was born on December 12, 1925 in Ulysses, Kansas. She was the third of six children born to James A. and Mary L. (Crites) Carlile. She died in Centralia, Washington, at the age of 89 on October 17, 2015.

Viola completed her elementary school education in Lebanon, Colorado, and received her eighth grade diploma from School District number 5 in the Colorado county of Montezuma on May 20, 1939. Four years later, on May 21, 1943, she graduated from Cortez Union High School in Cortez, Colorado.

Following her graduation from high school Viola moved to Burbank, California, and on June 8, 1943, she began employment as a department clerk with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation. She worked at Lockheed throughout World War 2 until her voluntary termination on April 3, 1946.

Seven months later, on November 1, 1946, Viola married Wilbur "Moon" Mullins in a Christian ceremony in Pinehurst, Idaho. Thereafter, the couple made their home in Wichita, Kansas, where they celebrated the births of their sons, Loren Allen (on July 4, 1949) and James Edwin (on March 1, 1953).

In 1955 they moved to Post Falls, Idaho, where they purchased a house on 10 acres of land. Moon worked for Ideal Cement Company in Spokane, Washington, and he and Viola together worked their small farm. Viola also wrote human interest stories for the Spokane Chronicle and completed a course in sewing at North Idaho Junior College in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. On April 28, 1957, they welcomed the birth of their third son, Wilbur Marc, and two years later, on March 28, 1959, their family was made complete with the births of their twin daughters, Carol Lynn and Cheryl Ann.

In 1967 Moon was transferred to Seattle, Washington to work in a new Ideal Cement Company plant. Viola and their five children joined him in June of that same year by moving into a house that they purchased in Federal Way, Washington. There Viola worked for the Federal Way School Foods Services until her retirement as a food line supervisor.

Viola enjoyed many interests throughout her lifetime, including gardening, cooking, sewing, reading and playing table games (card games were her favorite). She loved to play the steel guitar as well as the acoustic 6-string guitar and made sure her children received music education. Earlier in her life she gave lessons on the guitar and steel guitar.

She was active in church and community throughout her life. She taught Sunday School, served in a variety of leadership positions in the church, and helped in children's and youth ministries. Viola and Moon were both active leaders in 4-H, were charter members and supporters of the Federal Way Historical Society and Viola was an active member and officer in the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Viola is survived by her three sons, Loren Mullins (Sharon Price), James Mullins and Marc Mullins (Wendy Mullins); two daughters, Carol Gregory (Brian Gregory) and Cheryl Doherty; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Carline Greene and Ruth Brennecke, and numerous in-laws, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. She was preceded in death by her husband, Moon; sister, Marie; brothers Gary and Roy; and parents, James and Mary Carlile.

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