Rufus A. McMullen

Posted on June 1, 2021

Rufus A. McMullen Jr., 68, of Perry has passed from this life. Rufus fought a year-long battle with cancer and in the afternoon of May 28, 2021, went home to met his Lord. He passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones and his pets. Rufus was also known to his family, schoolmates and friends as Buddy. He was born on July 16, 1952, to Rufus Avon McMullen Sr. and Sarah Evelyn Hatcher McMullen in Live Oak. Shortly after his birth his family moved to Marion County. Throughout his life his family move around North Central Florida as his father advanced with the telephone company eventually returning to Live Oak permanently. In 1969, he met and fell in love with the love of his life, Jenean Sue Myer of Lake City. On Sept. 5, 1970, they married at College Manor Baptist Church in Lake City. At the time of their marriage, Rufus had begun his career as an apprentice electrician for Woolly Electric in Live Oak. On July 16, 1971, Rufus went to basic training in Ft. Jackson, S.C.

On Aug. 22, 1971, at 3:35 a.m., the pride of Rufus’ life was born, Rufus A. “Mac” McMullen III.

A week later, Rufus was given a fou-day pass to meet his son.

In the fall of 1971 he returned to his family to continue his civilian career as an electrician.

In 1972 he went to work for the Florida Division of Forestry as a forest ranger firefighter. He continued that career for 29 years retiring as forest area supervisor (FAS) on Sept. 30, 2002.

He continued to work as a forestry technician with Mutual Land Co. and Foley Land & Timber Company (Four Rivers). Rufus remained in the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG), reaching the rank of E7 Sergeant First Class. He received many awards and several medals during his FLARNG service, including two Florida Commendation Medals for Meritorious Service. Both commendations were for saving other soldiers’ lives; the first on June 21, 1982, where he performed the Heimlich Maneuver on a choking victim and the second on Nov. 27, 1990 when prevented two soldiers from pulling a power line down possibly prevented their electrocution.

From Dec. 6, 1990, until May 1, 1991, he served as section chief in support of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm in the Kuwaiti Theater of Operation. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for exceptional performance of duty during a period of imminent danger.

On Sept. 9, 1990, he received the promotion to Sergeant First Class/E7, a career-long goal. He retired at this rank on Feb. 15, 1993.

After his final retirement in 2011, he enjoyed traveling with Jenean across country as well as trips to Washington state with his brother, Richard, and Jenean. They later traveled to San Francisco, Calif., and Idaho to visit with the Frazey family. He had more trips planned, but his illness prevented anymore

travel.

He loved to grow anything, but his vegetable garden gave him the most joy as this gave him an opportunity to share with friends, family and strangers he might encounter.

He loved the elderly from a young age and enjoyed taking fish (cleaned of course) and vegetables to

them. Rufus was a Christian at the time of his death and member of First Presbyterian Church Perry. He was also ordained deacon in both New Home Baptist and Calvary Baptist, both of Perry during his Christian walk.

He loved his Lord, his family and people in general.

Jenean called him “Mr. Fix-it” and throughout his life he met and became friends with many people that she volunteered his talents. He was never too busy to lend a helping hand.

After recent hurricanes he gathered up his chainsaw, axes and his grandsons and headed to the areas hit. As they found areas in need, he showed “his boys” as he referred to them how to work “for the Lord,” helping people in need.

He had a servant’s heart and loved people. As a friend recently said, you could see Rufus’ footprint most everywhere you went.

He loved to fish on the Gulf with his son and friends also on the Suwannee River, with his brothers, David and Daniel, and sister, Edith, along husband, Bob.

One of his greatest joys was teaching his grandsons, Gabriel and Kalyan, to fish on the Suwannee River where his grandfather taught him to fish. He was proceeded in death by: his parents, Rufus Sr. and Sarah Evelyn McMullen; paternal

grandparents, Cecil Rufus and Lula Mae Morgan McMullen; maternal grandparents, James Eli

“Jim” and Mildred James Hatcher; aunts, Louise D. McMullen (Jim) Yeary and Barbara Mildred Hatcher Spicer; uncles, James (Betty) Hatcher and Andrew “Andy” Hatcher; infant son, Hiram DeWayne McMullen; father and mother in-law, John W. Jr. and Elgie R. Peter Myer; brothers-in-law, John W. Myer III, Harold Dale Myer and LeRoy E. Durrance; and sisters-in-law, Chloe S. Myer, Clora, Edith and Carol Myer. He is survived by: his wife of 50 years, Jenean Sue Myer McMullen; son, Rufus A. “Mac”

McMullen III and his wife, Crystal G. McMullen, who was his daughter, not his daughter-in-law

according to Rufus; grandsons, Gabriel Lee McMullen and Kalyan Dewaine McMullen; sisters, Edith D. McMullen (Robert “Bob”) Griner and Bonita M. McMullen (Mario) Hernandez; brothers, David L. (Robin) McMullen, Richard D. (Gwen) McMullen and Daniel T. McMullen; sister-in-law, Virginia A. Myer Durrance; and brother-in-law, Ronald D. Myer; along with a host of nieces, nephews, great and great-great nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Calvary Baptist Church on Golf Course Road today (Wednesday) at 10 a.m. Followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. With Brother Bill Jenkins and Brother Ben Kimmell officiating.

Calvary Baptist Church will provide a meal immediately following in their Fellowship Hall.

The processional to interment will leave shortly after the fellowship meal and proceed to Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery in McAlpin with Pastor Natasha Sudderth-Davis officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Calvary Baptist Church, Big Bend Hospice or UF Health at Shands ENT Department.

Our family would like to say a special thanks to all who helped and prayed for Rufus during the past year. The love we have been shown over the past year has truly humbled us, including Rufus. We have truly been blessed!