William Junior Mullenix, a 73 year old resident of Trenton, passed away at 12:49 p.m. on Sunday, March 16, 2014 at the St Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, MO.
Junior Mullenix was born September 18, 1940 in Putnam County, Missouri. He attended Livonia High School and graduated in 1958. Junior attended Hannibal-LaGrange Junior College earning his Associate of Arts degree in 1960. While at Hannibal-LaGrange he lettered in baseball, basketball, and track. He then attended the University of Wyoming on a baseball scholarship. In the spring of 1961, Junior led the Skyline Conference with a .455 batting average and then signed a contract with the St. Louis Cardinals to play minor league ball with their farm club in Keokuk, Iowa. The following year he played for the Cardinal’s Canadian farm club the Winnepeg Goldeyes.
Junior then returned to Kirksville, Missouri and earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College, in 1963. Following graduation he became a teacher and head basketball coach in Lancaster Missouri. In 1965 he led the Lancaster boys to a 4th place finish in the state tournament. Also in 1965 he earned his Master’s Degree from Northeast Missouri State Teacher’s College in Secondary Education. He also taught and coached at Augusta, Illinois before accepting a position at Trenton High School as teacher and coach in 1969. Junior taught history, social studies, and physical education during his tenure at THS in addition to head basketball, track, and cross country coaching duties. He also coached the Trenton Junior College (NCMC) women’s 1977-78 basketball team.
On December 21, 1968 Junior married Patsy (Pat) L. Gregory in Kirksville, Missouri. In 1977, Junior attended the Missouri Auctioneer’s School in Kansas City. The following year he became an insurance agent for MFA Insurance (Shelter Insurance) in Trenton. He and Pat operated the insurance agency for more than 20 years as well as Mullenix Auction Service until his death.
Junior was true river rat and found peace and enjoyment wading the muddy rivers of north Missouri with his cane pole and chicken livers. He loved to hunt mushrooms and took with him a few secret spots. Junior also enjoyed hunting, spending time out at Riverside Country Club, watching baseball and basketball and coaching from the stands. His unmistakable laugh and personality afforded him many fine friends and a very loving family.
Junior was a member of Trenton Elks Lodge BPOE #801, and Hartford Lodge #171 of the AF & AM.
William Junior Mullenix is survived by his wife of the home and their five children, Becky Smith and husband Mark, Brookfield, Missouri; Kerri Glidewell and husband Dane, Lee’s Summit, Missouri; Mike Cooley and wife LaDona, Kansas City, Missouri; Jason Mullenix, Trenton, Missouri; and Travis Mullenix, Trenton, Missouri; Ten grandchildren, Stacy and husband Bill Mackley, Kansas City; Tyler McKibben, Olathe, Kansas; Nathan Glidewell and James Glidewell, Lee’s Summit; Samantha Piburn and Shelby Piburn, Kansas City; Marilyn Cooley, Apopka, Florida; Maycee Hoover, Warrensburg; and Cade Mullenix and Cree Mullenix, Trenton, two great grandchildren and his sister, Loretta Norton of Columbia, Missouri and her children Gayla and Keith Weber and their son Matthew; Brent Norton and daughter Nicole; and Richard Norton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Don William and Eva Marie (Hatfield) Mullenix and one grandchild.
Funeral services are scheduled for 2:05 p.m., Friday, March 21, 2014 at the First Christian Church in Trenton. Burial will follow in Resthaven Memorial Gardens of Trenton. A scheduled visitation is scheduled from 6 until 7 Thursday evening at Resthaven Mortuary in Trenton.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are requested to the Junior Mullenix Memorial Sports Fund to support local youth baseball and/or basketball programs
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