Teresa Mullen – A Passion for Family and Health

BY JACLYN ROSE –

Growing up in a military family, Teresa Mullen lived all over the United States before moving to Mena in 1977.  “Moving around taught me diversity.  I had to be able to adapt to different cultures and different people,” Mullen explained.

After graduating from Mena High School in 1982, Mullen moved to Houston to attend college and further her career in Accounting but moved back to Mena four years later when her grandfather had open heart surgery.  “My husband Rondal and I were high school buddies and we married in January of 1987.  It is so important to be good friends with your spouse before you get married, and then to stay that way,” explained Mullen.

The Mullens have two children, Thomas and Jessica.  “I love everything about being a mother, the ups and the downs and the bads and the goods.  In 2005, Jessica was diagnosed with a tumor in her brain stem and had her first surgery at Arkansas Children’s Hospital five days later.  We lived in Little Rock during the six weeks of radiation she had that fall.  She had her gallbladder out in August, started her first day of high school in August and began radiation in September.  Through all of this, it made us realize that we needed to take time off to be together, that those family vacations are important and we need to spend time together.  Today Jessica’s tumor is stable but she suffers from severe migraines and is unable to work.  Later this month she will have another surgery,” said Mullen.  Thomas is married to Misty Mullen and they have given the Mullens three grandchildren, Kinsey, Jaxon, and Avery.  “Being a grandmother is wonderful.  It is the greatest thing to raise your kids and then be around your grandkids and have them grow up right there on the property with you,” said Mullen with a smile.

In 1994, the Mullens took over the family business, Mullen Construction, which specializes in dirt work.  They build roads and ponds for the National Forest Service while also building residential house pads and digging ponds, building roads, clearing lands, and building pads for chicken houses.  Rondal is the third generation to own Mullen Construction and someday Thomas will be the fourth in their family to own the business.

Mullen began working in accounting through her high school work program and has continued in that career for the past 34 years.  “No matter what job I had, it always circled back around to accounting.  It seems like it just always comes full circle back to accounting,” Mullen explained.  She is also involved in various areas of community service as a CASA volunteer, and a member of the Mena Lioness Lions, where she served as treasurer for two years.  Currently, her passion is in serving as a board member for the Quality of Life Outreach, Inc. QOL is an organization that serves to promote health, safety, and wellness in Polk County.  “We identify in the community ways that we can make improvements.  We work towards a safe, clean environment, health education, and youth and adult drug prevention. We are a big sponsor for the Walk Across Polk County and are involved in the back pack program and the pre-prom prevention.  Our latest initiative is assisting in bringing the Dolly Parton Imagination Library into Polk County.  This program provides quality books for children ages birth through five years, regardless of their parent’s income level.  There are currently funds available for startup in South Polk County,” Mullen explained.

“I love calling Mena home.  It has a wonderful family environment and raising our kids and grandkids here has been such a blessing.  I wouldn’t dream of doing it anywhere else,” Mullen said.

About Author

Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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