John Thomas Mullican, age 91, of Decatur, Alabama, passed away Saturday, May 23, 2026, at his residence surrounded by his loving family.
He was born November 30, 1934, in Neel, Alabama, to William Jasper Mullican and Ola Rose Mullican.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan Warren Mullican; daughter-in-law, Karen Weber-Mullican; granddaughter, Katy Mullican; five sisters, Maurine Walden, Evelyn Tidwell, Myrtle Chenault, Ozella Woodall, and Inez Pace; and two brothers, Billy Ray Mullican and Jack Mullican.
He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Ann Mullican; son, Tom Mullican; daughter, Carol Mullican; grandchildren, John Mullican III (JoAnn), Elizabeth Thompson (Artie), and Caki Engen (Shawn); great-grandchildren, Oliver and Shine Thompson, Jamie and Juliet Mullican, and Counts and Wells Engen; sister-in-law, Pat Mullican; and a host of nieces and nephews.
John was a 1953 graduate of Decatur High School, where he was known as “as big and husky as can be, a Red Raider football star is he.” Athletics were a lifelong passion, and he scored the first two points in the new gym at Decatur High School in basketball. His athletic abilities earned him football recruitment opportunities from Alabama, Auburn, and General Neyland at Tennessee.
He married Ann in 1953, and graduated in 1959 from the University of Alabama on a ROTC scholarship, where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in the Army Reserves. John and Ann moved to Mobile following college, but in 1964 they returned to Decatur, where he worked as a Mechanical Engineer for Prestolite for more than a decade before beginning a 35-year career with Monsanto, retiring in 1996.
John proudly served on the Decatur City Council from 1992 until 1996, a position he deeply enjoyed. One of his proudest accomplishments during his service was helping transition the Decatur Boat Harbor into a private entity, an effort that improved the city’s profitability and enhanced the entrance into Decatur.
During this same period, he continued advancing through the ranks of the Alabama Army Reserve Corps of Engineers. He served as Company Commander and Head of Army Reserves for the Decatur Unit and played an instrumental role in securing the site where the reserve base is located today. He attained the rank of Major before concluding his military service.
He was a member of Ninth Street United Methodist Church from 1964 until the doors closed. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sunday School teacher, Lay leader, building chair, and any other capacity which he was called to serve. After Ninth Street closed their doors, he and Ann found their church home at Chapel Hill Methodist Church.
Following retirement, John enjoyed land development alongside Dave Adams, especially in the Chapel Hill area, where many beautiful homes now stand. He also loved gardening, playing golf, and most of all, cherishing time spent with family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 1:00 PM at Shelton Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Jimmy Chenault, Rev. Paul Weigert, and Rev. Jerry Chenault officiating. The family will receive friends from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM prior to the service. Burial will follow at Roselawn Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Chase Borie, Kevin Borie, Kyle Henderson, Butch Matthews, Chris Morris, and Jasper Mullican.
Memorials may be made to Chapel Hill Methodist Church, Decatur, AL.
Shelton Funeral Home is honored to assist the Mullican family.
