Gylan Mulkey

Aug. 16, 1932 - Dec. 17, 2010 Gylan Mulkey, 78, died Friday, Dec. 17, 2010, in Monmouth, surrounded by family. He was born on Aug. 16, 1932, in Monmouth. His parents purchased property south of Monmouth in 1937. The government took over their property to become part of Camp Adair in 1942. The family then moved south of Corvallis to farm. Gylan graduated from Corvallis High School in 1950. After graduation, he majored in agriculture at Oregon State University until he was drafted into the U.S. Army in January 1954 and became a helicopter mechanic in North Slope, Alaska. When he returned from the military, he went into logging. He met Gwen at the Chinese Tea Room in 1958, and they married in 1961. In 1966, they moved back to the original Mulkey farm in Monmouth. Gylan farmed, logged and worked harder than most until the cancer completely took over this year. He was active in many organizations: the National Farm Organization, the Ryegrass Commission, the Seed Council, the Tall Fescue Commission, the Smoke Management Commission, the Mid-Willamette Air Commission Advisory Board, the Polk County Road Advisory and the Farm Home Administration Committee. He was a member of the Central School District Board from 1980 to 1984, and was chairman in 1983 and 1984. He helped start the Oregon Women for Agriculture Auction in 1983, and was a founding member of the Oregon Meadowfoam Growers Association. Gylan enjoyed logging, farming, flying, pig barbecues and beer, tractor pulls, going to auctions, trucking, Safety Committee meetings and, of course, spoiling his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his infant son, David, in 1962; and his wife, Gwen, in 2007. Survivors include children Garth (Susan) Mulkey of Monmouth, Ginger (Troy) Benedict of Maple Valley, Wash., and Gylan Adam Gus (Crystell) Mulkey of Monmouth; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his brothers, Paul and Myrl Mulkey; his companion, Nancy Sullivan of Falls City; and his dog, Smidge. Contributions can be made to Evergreen Hospice Service of Albany or the American Cancer Society. Memorial services will take place at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, at the First Baptist Church in Independence. Arrangements are by McHenry Funeral Home, Corvallis.

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Gylan Mulkey

August 16, 1932 - December 17, 2010