Jeanette Gammon Mull passed away at home on January 29, 2023. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She brought joy and happiness to others through her accomplishments as a painter, volunteer and civic servant, where she actively participated in the community, always with a focus on the common good.
Jeanette was born February 17, 1936 in Springfield, Missouri. She was the daughter of Dr. Claude Gammon and Lucille(Ross) Gammon, and was raised in Buffalo, Missouri, where she attended Buffalo High School and graduated as Salutatorian. Thereafter, Jeanette attended the University of Missouri-Columbia, earning a degree in Journalism which led to a job at AT&T in Kansas City, Missouri, where she was the writer/editor/photographer for the employee newsletter.
While in Kansas City, she met her husband of 61 years, Jack Mull, and they married in 1961 at the Community Christian Church on the Country Club Plaza. During their time in Kansas City, Jeanette and Jack welcomed their first child, John, and then moved to Staten Island, New York where they resided for three years. After New York, they moved to Hutchinson, Kansas where they made a lifelong home raising John and their daughter, Lucy, whom they welcomed shortly after arriving in town.
Jeanette was an accomplished woman with an entrepreneurial spirit. Her accolades were many, including Co-Founder of the Dillon Lecture Series (1981), President of Mull Motors auto dealership (early 80s) and Public Relations Chairman of the Reno County Historical Society, to name a few. She also worked in retail at Terry Bloskey’s clothing store. She lived her life with purpose, and she continually educated and challenged herself through reading, taking business, history and art classes at the community college, including a class to learn the Russian language! She traveled extensively, and was a crossword puzzle and word game enthusiast.
Jeanette was musical. She sang in her church choir, was a member of the Sound of Ahs music ensemble and loved listening to the local classical music station. Her family has fond memories of her playing Christmas carols on the piano throughout the years. Jeanette was also an avid gardener. Her backyard garden was colorful and interesting with many unique flowers and plants, including her grandmother Ross’s ancient rose bush that she transplanted and nurtured from her beloved mother’s garden.
Jeanette was a tremendous artistic talent and her true passion was painting. This came later in life when her children were grown. She devoted herself to art classes and workshops, traveling domestically and in France and Italy to expand her artistic skills and experience. As a result, her artwork has been shown locally and regionally, and many of her beloved pieces are treasured by family, friends and various businesses.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Dr. John “Jack” Mull, Hutchinson; son, John G. Mull (Beth), Prescott, AZ; daughter, Lucy Wietharn (Brian), Leawood, KS; grandchildren, Andrew and Jacob Mull, Marshall and Cate Wietharn; sister, Carol (Gammon) Elkins, Gladstone, MO; nieces, Ann Elkins, and Dr. Linda Elkins; nephew, Onyx Crimbil; great-nieces, Carolyn and Marian McNulty and various cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents.
A Celebration of Life will take place on April 1st, from 1 to 4 pm, at the Hutchinson Art Center, where a retrospective of her work will be on display. Friends may sign her guestbook from 9am to 5pm beginning Monday, February 6th, at Elliott Mortuary.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to: Hutchinson Art Center or Hutchinson YMCA, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N. Main Hutchinson, KS 67501