Photo provided
November 2, 1939 – September 30, 2022
In the early hours of dawn, when the emerging rays of the sun chased away the coldest part of the night and cast shimmering streams of pink over the tops of the evergreens, Burt Mullison walked slowly through the fog, the shadowy silhouette of his body fading with each step, until he faded from our sight, but not before his infectious laughter broke out one last time, echoing vibrantly through the pines, lingering in the morning light, a open invitation for each of us, for all of us, to join in his laughter.
Burt was born November 2, 1939 in Grant, NE to Howard and Beth Mullison. Burt grew up with his two brothers, Dean and Bill Mullison, and his family moved several times until finally settling in Loveland when Burt was in fourth grade. Loveland became Burt’s home, and he grew up terrorizing the town of Loveland with his cousins Sally Moninger, Pat Farnham, Sue Mallot, Jack Trethewey, and Rob Tretheway.
After graduating from Loveland High School, Burt and three of his close friends, Gary Jurgemeyer, Jim Scoles and Bobby Hoffman, joined the Navy together in 1958. He spent most of his four years of military service stationed on the USS Ranger, visiting many countries. throughout the Pacific.
While on leave in June 1960, Burt met Jacci Rhoden at Jack’s Snacks in Estes Park, CO. Never shy, Burt asked her to dance that night. Burt and Jacci married in 1962, and they didn’t stop dancing for the rest of their time together.
The lovely couple started a family, and Burt’s career in retail saw them move frequently, eventually settling in Steamboat Springs, CO. Burt eventually started his own home inspection business, building it from the ground up and making it successful before retiring after 15 years. Never one to sit still, Burt kept busy in retirement driving the school bus for the Thompson School District and keeping the golfers moving and laughing, in his role as the ranger for The Old Course @ Loveland.
Burt was always positive, optimistic and encouraging. He had an unequaled thirst for life. He never met a stranger, only friends he didn’t know yet. He enriched the lives of everyone he met. In a crowded room, Burt’s gregarious and fun personality always made him stand out from the crowd. His laughter will be sorely missed, but if you listen carefully you will always hear it resonating in his family and friends.
Burt is survived above all by his wife of 60 years, his best friend, his foundation, the love of his life, Jacci Mullison of Loveland, CO. Burt also leaves behind two amazing and wonderful daughters, Kristi Spence of Steamboat Springs, CO, and Vicki Tudor of Monument, CO, as well as his two sons-in-law, Randy Homan and Jeff Tudor. Burt was incredibly proud of his four grandchildren: Bailey Tudor of Philadelphia, PA, Sam Tudor of Boston, MA, Hanna Spence of Portland, OR, and Ethan Spence of Steamboat Springs, CO.
Please come celebrate Burt’s life at 1 p.m. on Thursday, October 6 at First United Methodist Church in Loveland.
Instead of donations or flowers, do something Burt would have done today. Start a conversation with a stranger. Tell an inappropriate joke. Take care of your family. Laugh out loud, a real laugh though, a real belly laugh. Raise a glass with a group of friends. Smile. Please honor Burt’s memory by spreading good cheer and laughter.
