Arthur M. Mulkey

On Dec. 5, 2007, Arthur M. Mulkey reached out to take the hand of his heavenly Father for his final journey home. He was born on the 21st of December, 1931, in Phoenix, to Victor Allen Mulkey and Ida Mae Brown.

Dad, like so many of his generation, left home at the early age of 14 to make "his own way" in life. As he thumbed his way across Kansas, he worked various jobs in the wheat fields. As harvest ended, he continued his way west to Denver, where an owner of a masonry company took Dad into his home and gave him a job packing cement hods. While in Denver, he also worked as a soda jerk at Walgreen's, and other various jobs. At 19, he entered the Air Force and received training in aircraft mechanics. He was discharged after two years, standing up for what he believed, which ended a lieutenant on the floor with a broken nose. The Air Force gave him an honorable discharge after finding Art's facts to be true. His commanding officer then bought a car lot in California and hired Dad to buy and sell cars ? the rest is history. The self-proclaimed "vagabond" that he was began a new adventure selling for the Great Books Company, where he met many people, but the one of most importance was the love of his life, Berniece Brown "Babe." They traveled around the country, living in many different towns, making every day an adventure, counting change just to buy groceries and loving every day. They were married in March of 1961, and moved to Billings in 1965. With no money, no home, he walked into Ryan Oldsmobile with one small toolbox and a lot of confidence, and convinced them that he would be best suited for a job they didn't know was available. Thus began his career in the auto world.

Dad's greatest loves were his family, which consists of eight children, 18 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He truly treasured his friends (whom are too numerous to mention) and the time he spent tinkering, creating, building cars and his inventions. Dad raised a wonderful loving family and shared with them his love, wisdom, talents and sound principles of life. All who knew him loved and respected him. He was an angel here on earth and selflessly helped those in need. He never met a stranger.

Art was preceded in death by his parents, brother and sister. He is survived by wife, Babe Mulkey of Billings; sons Arthur and Pam Mulkey of Billings, Val Mulkey of Montrose, Colo., Mike and Diana Mulkey of Billings, David Mulkey of Billings; and daughters, Brad and Pam (Mulkey) Anderson of Billings, Chuck and Belinda (Mulkey) Davis of Columbia, Mo., Jason and Dawn (Mulkey) Ness of Billings, Shawn and Lynn (Mulkey) Grant of Billings.

Memorial service will be held at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 29 Eighth St. West, Billings, on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 2 p.m. Gathering in celebration of Dad's life will be at Wild West, 1516 Fourth Ave. N.

Should friends desire, memorials may be sent to Billings YWCA, 909 Wyoming, Billings.