Terri Mullen Bartling, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and aunt, aged 57, of Memphis Tennessee, sadly passed away on September 22, 2023 after a lengthy illness surrounded by loved ones.
Terri was born in Rawlins, Wyoming on February 12, 1966 to Mike and Shirley Mullen. Her family moved to Casper, WY where she attended both Kelly Walsh and Natrona County High Schools. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Administration of Justice from The University of Wyoming. She followed a career in human resources and management, working as Vice-President of OfficeMax in Napierville, Illinois. Terri was recognized as “Businesswoman of the Year under 40” in both Wyoming and Illinois. She also served as the Director of Illinois’ Diversity Council. At the time of her death Terri was Director of Sales for Essendant.
Terri’s joy in life revolved around spending time with her family, her cats, and in helping others. She moved to Memphis in order to be closer to her daughter, where she reunited with and married her high school sweetheart, Jon Bartling, in early 2023. Terri shared a love of creating art along with her mother Shirley. She also looked forward to her morning daily phone calls with her father Mike.
Terri had an amazing sense of humor and was known for her pranks. She loved to have fun, whether that meant giving noogies, doing the tortilla challenge, or leaving googly eyes on her parents’ plants. She was the ultimate ‘hype’ lady, always being there for all those around her. She helped several relatives with resumes, job interviews and work advice. Terri’s genuine compassion for differently abled people was evident as she built the leadership and support team for a large customer service center in Wyoming and also as she fully leveraged all available resources to accommodate special needs. She recognized the value and potential of every individual.
Terri is preceded in death by her sister Audrey (Jerry) Williams. She is survived by her husband, Jon Bartling, her parents, Mike and Shirley Mullen, her brother, Dennis (Susan, children Bronwyn and Finn) Mullen, her daughter, Krista (Vince) Jacobs , her grandchildren Eli, Molly, and Louise Jacobs, her nephews Brett (Liz) and Connor Williams, her former spouse Scott Mayes, and her cats, Katniss and Penelope.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 14 at 10:00 AM at Woodfin Funeral Chapel, 1488 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro, TN. A memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM, officiated by Rev. Martha Touchton. Donations to The Humane Society of Memphis or The Rheumatoid Arthritis Foundation would be greatly appreciated.
