W. Wayne Mullin

Winfred Wayne "W" Mullin, 87, of Miami, OK, entered eternal rest at 11:30 p.m., April 9, 2024, at Seneca House Skilled Nursing in Seneca, MO.  

Wayne was born on June 22, 1936, in Stella, MO, to Ted and Walsa (Long) Mullin. He graduated from Seneca High School and entered the U.S. Army at 18. After the service, he returned home and met and fell in love with Barbara Ann Lankford, daughter of Glenn and Judy (Gamble) Lankford of rural Seneca. Wayne married his "little Indian girl" on December 29, 1956.

He and Barbara, whom he lovingly called "Butchie Lou," raised their three children in Seneca.

In his early career, Wayne was a blaster in northeast Oklahoma's lead and zinc mines. He worked alongside his father-in-law, Glenn, or "Harvo," as Wayne would call him, in the mines and as a welder for many years. Wayne was a skilled woodworker and handyman capable of electrical, plumbing, roofing, drywall, and carpet-laying. He and Barb jointly owned TM Truss (Turley-Mullin) in Seneca in the late 70s-early 80s with their dear friends John and Loretta Turley. He and Barband also owned the "Border Town Cafe" on Main Street in Seneca in the early 80s, where they served the best homemade pies for miles (cooked up by Judy Lankford, of course!). But what folks far and near know Wayne excelled at best was music. He was a singer extraordinaire, and while he could play piano and other instruments by ear, it was his silky "Marty Robbin's like" voice that took him from southwest Missouri (in the late 60s to early 70s) to Music City-Nashville, TN-where he made records and played on the stage of the "Grand Ole Opry."

Barb preceded her "W" in death in 2017. In their 59 years of life and love, they enjoyed his music, her love of family, food, and fun, pow-wows with daughter Tracie, wrestling tournaments with their son Wynn, cheerleading with their daughter Tammi, and big Lankford family dinners every weekend.

Wayne has been employed by the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma for the past 28 years. He loved working alongside and delivering morning coffee there to his "Butchie Lou."

Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Don and Eddie, and great-grandchildren, Zaybrial Starr, son of granddaughter Hunter Mullin, and Raelynn, child of granddaughter Brooklyn King.

He is survived by his brothers Fred and Jerry Mullin of rural Miami, OK, and sisters Carol Brown of Neosho, MO, and Loetta Noonkester of Ogden, UT. His children are daughter Tracie Mullin of Neosho, MO, son Wynn Mullin of Seneca, and daughter Tammi (Mike) Byrne of Seneca. His grandchildren are Wade (Amber) Mullin of Granby, MO, Dakota, and Wyatt Speak of Granby, MO, Joshua (Shaina) Mullin of Seneca, Hunter Mullin of Joplin, MO, Blake (Jessica) Byrne of Miami, OK, Bryce Byrne of Seneca, and Brooklyn King of Miami, OK. His great-grandchildren are Brennan, Lucas, and Clayton Mullin, children of Wade and Amber; Makenna and Elianna Mullin, children of Josh and Shaina; Tiana, Tessa and Tuff Byrne, children of Blake and Jessica; Genesis, Sofia and Aston, children of Bryce Byrne; Felicity and Ryette, children of Brooklyn King; Zane and Zavyn Shields, and Zachary "Wayne" Mullin, children of Hunter Mullin.

According to Miami Tribe custom, Wayne will lie in state, surrounded by family, at Sandy Captain Cultural Center in Seneca, MO, from Wed., April 10, at 6 p.m. until Thursday evening, April 11, at 8 p.m. The family will welcome visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 11.

Graveside services under the direction of Campbell-Biddlecome Funeral Home, Seneca will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 12, at the Swars Prairie Church of Christ Cemetery located southeast of Seneca, MO. Jamie Lankford will officiate, Derald Boman will read the obituary. Wayne's nephew, Chief Douglas Lankford of the Miami Tribe, will conduct graveside Miami rites. His niece, Jackie Dixon, will perform the Lord's Prayer in Tribal sign language. Pallbearers are grandsons Wade and Joshua Mullin, with nephews Kyle, Kolby, Nathan Lankford and Blake Byrne. Honorary Pallbearers are brothers-in-law Jerry and Doug Lankford, grandsons Aubrey Lankford, Bryce Byrne, Wyatt and Dakota Speak, and nephews Rick Hancock and Tom Dixon.