Isabella C. (Bella) Mullican

Isabella C. (Bella) Mullican passed away Sunday, November 14, 2010 in Gulfport, MS after battling an unknown ailment that caused paralysis of her entire body at the very end. She was born Thursday, February 16, 1939 in Edinburgh, Scotland to Ernest John and Janet Simpson Dykes. She met Joe Mullican while he was serving in the USAF, stationed near Edinburgh and they were married on October 24, 1958 in the London Road Church, Church of Scotland. The ceremony was performed by Reverend McCaskill, who also professed great pleasure when he was allowed to christen their daughter, Yvonne the following year. After completeing her required education, Bella went to work at the Munrospum Garment Factory making cashmere sweaters and continued working there until just before she was married. She worked primarily as a homemaker but held a number of different jobs over the years and used the money that she earned to purchase the extras that she wanted for her family and her home. Bella had many interests in life, traveling, dancing, her family, and especially, pride in her home. She received many compliments on how beautifully decorated she kept it. Bella never left her house before it was neat and tidy with everything clean and in its proper place. She was a terrific homemaker and had an uncanny ability to take small things and make them into a very decorative enhancements to her home. Bella was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Evelyn and her brother, David. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Joe Mullican; daughter, Yvonne (Todd) Gilliland of Napa, CA; son, Steven Mullican of Biloxi, MS; granddaughters, Jennifer Mullican and Evelyn Gilliland; grandsons, Travis and Jack Gilliland and Joey Mullican; sister-in-law, Cathy Dykes of Edinburgh, Scotland and several nieces and a nephew in Scotland and numerous cousins in Scotland and England. Funeral services will be on Friday, November 19, 2010 at 10:00 a.m at the Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, West Biloxi. Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m until service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi National Cemetery.