CLEVELAND, May 20 — Former BLET General Chairman and Special Representative John D. Mullen passed away on May 18 following complications arising from a heart transplant.
Brother Mullen, 57, served the Brotherhood as General Chairman of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (former ATSF) General Committee of Adjustment for several years. He also served the National Division as a Special Representative and Director of Short Lines from 2003-2008.
Brother Mullen was in the intensive care unit at Baylor Hospital awaiting a heart transplant for about a month before finding a donor. He eventually found a match and underwent surgery on May 2, but succumbed to complications from the procedure on May 18.
“Today is a sad day for the BLET because of the passing of John Mullen,” BLET National President Dennis Pierce said. “Brother Mullen devoted decades of his life in pursuit of our Brotherhood’s goals, and we are a better Organization today for his efforts.
“On behalf of the Advisory Board and the 55,000 member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, I extend deepest sympathies to Brother Mullen’s friends and family.”
He is survived by his wife, Mary Mullen; daughters, Lacey Dee Mullen, and Lindsey Dee Sullivan, and husband, Mark; grandsons, Carsen John Sullivan, and Weston Dean Sullivan; and a host of loving extended family and friends.
The family will host a visitation today (Friday, May 20) from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Burleson, Texas (phone: 817-426-3200). Funeral services will follow at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 21) at the First United Methodist Church in Joshua (114 Paula Drive, Joshua, Texas 76058).