Memorial for Gazette's Kitty Mulligan is Feb. 11

KATHLEEN "KITTY" MULLIGAN 

1946-2011

"Kitty" (baptized Kathleen) Mulligan, a Payson, Ariz. resident since 1996, recently passed away at home due to an accident.

Kitty was born March 26, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wis.  She grew up in Pomona, Calif. and after her first marriage ended moved to Irvine, Calif.  where she raised her two sons, John and Daniel.

She worked for several years for the Fluor Corp. in Irvine; however, she found her true niche in 1994 when she married her husband Greg Mulligan.  By her own admission she was not the best employee, but she was ecstatically happy in her new role as a wife and homemaker - and was very good at it as well.

For many years, Kitty was the "smiling face" at Lamplighter RV Resort in Star Valley where she excelled as a goodwill ambassador at resort functions.  Unfailingly she would greet and welcome everyone with her big smile and "slightly" off center humor.  Greg and Kitty were also heavily involved in the formation of Star Valley, and were also founders of the Rim Country Gazette newspaper.  Watching both these endeavors come to fruition was a source of great pride to Kitty.

She was a great lover of, provider for, and caretaker of her pets.  Her two dogs, Clancy and Mutt Lee preceded her in death, and certainly are very happy at this time and taking good care of her.  She was also a great lover of art and painting, and would spend many hours in her home studio.

With Greg's retirement, traveling and RVing became a source of great enjoyment.  Lobster in Maine, "Rumrunners" in Key West, crawfish in Louisiana, oysters in Oregon, cruising in Alaska and visiting Deadwood, S.D. and the Little Big Horn were memorable stops on their travels.

She is survived by her husband Greg Mulligan of Payson, and two sons, Johnny (she loves to call him Johnny) Hullings and his wife Wendy and their two children, Shane and Deanna, of Irvine;  Daniel (he was always Daniel to his mom) Hullings and his wife Sandi and their two children, Jacob and Braden, of Gilbert, Ariz.; and she is also survived by stepson John Mulligan of Star Valley and stepdaughter Mandy Mulligan of Costa Mesa, Calif.

A memorial celebration is scheduled for Feb. 11, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Messinger Mortuary, 901 S. Westerly Rd. in Payson.  A reception to celebrate her life will immediately follow.  RSVP to tonsa46@hotmail.com.  In lieu of flowers, her husband and family request donations be made to either the Humane Society of Central Arizona or Hospice Compassus, both in Payson.