Wallace Dean Mulkey passed into his heavenly reward on Thursday, February 25, 2021.  Dean was born to Wallace Kimbrough (Doc) Mulkey, a city of Denton Police officer and Wilma Faye (Wallis) Mulkey on May 26, 1938 "in the country" on East McKinney Street and remained in Denton his entire life.  Dean was best known as the co-owner and then sole owner of Mulkey-Mason Funeral Homes in Denton and Lewisville.

After graduating from Denton High School in 1956, where he actively participated in the AFROTC program, he spent three years enrolled at the University of North Texas before discovering funeral directing as his life's calling.  Following completion of his education in 1960 at the Dallas Institute Gumpton Jones Mortuary Science (now the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service), he apprenticed in Denton at Schmitz-Floyd-Hamlett Funeral Home, and entered full-time service in January of 1961.  As was common at the time, funeral directors were trained in emergency medical care and he provided first call care as the funeral home had the vehicles which would accommodate a stretcher.  For many years, Dean taught First Aid and CPR classes before the City of Denton assumed the responsibility of providing EMS care.

In 1983, Dean and Monte Mason purchased the Jack Schmitz and Son Funeral Home in an iconic historic home (circa 1903) located on north Locust.  Approximately five years later, the business became known simply as Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home with locations in Denton and Lewisville.  There are countless individuals who have been helped by Dean's compassionate care as they walked with them through their most difficult days and he considered his profession a privilege and a calling to minister to those who requested his services.

In 1958, Dean married Mary Lyon and they were blessed with three children – two sons Craig and Scott and daughter Deana Kay.  They remained married until her death in 2008.  In 2013 Dean married Cherie Craft, who had moved to Denton in 1980 to initiate hospice care at Ann's Haven Hospice of Denton County – an organization which Dean had helped start.   Dean was a member of First Baptist Church of Denton for many decades and attended regularly.  He was also instrumental in the establishment of Gateway Baptist Church in Denton.  In 2011, Dean received recognition as maintaining a Texas Funeral Director's license for 50 years.   He was also an active member of the High Noon Lions Club, a 50 year member of IOOF, the Stanfield Masonic Lodge #217, York and Scottish Rite, and a Shriner.

Dean was preceded in death by his parents, two infant brothers, first wife Mary and daughter Deana Kay Thompson. He is survived by his wife Cherie, son R. Craig Mulkey (Sharon) of Lewisville, son M. Scott Mulkey (Trinda)of Justin, brother in law Ross Craft of Houston, grandchildren Krysti Hicks, Chad Mulkey, Brandy Thompson, Taylor Mulkey, Sheridan Mulkey Combs and Melanie Mulkey and two great grandsons Hayden and Connor Hicks as well as numerous cousins.  Dean also dearly loved his two miniature chocolate Dachshunds, Mack and Maggie Mae as he referred to them as "my babies".

Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church Denton, 1100 Malone Street on Tuesday, March 2, 2021. at 2 pm with Reverend Sam Redfearn and Reverend Buddy Owens officiating.  Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.  The service will be live streamed at firstdenton.org .  Visitation will be held Monday night March 1, 2021 at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 North Locust, Denton from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.