Patricia Ann Mastin Bulliner, 81, of Acworth, Ga., passed away on Jan. 14, 2023, with complications from Alzheimer’s/MAC and was cared for and loved by numerous family and friends.
In keeping with her wishes, there will not be a public funeral, but her family will have a celebration of life in both her hometown of Mobile, Ala., and then in Henderson. A graveside service will be held at the old Montezuma Cemetery in Chester County, which has been the final resting place for Bulliner family ancestors for five generations. Friends and family who wish to express sympathy to the Bulliner family or write a tribute, there is a memorial website that can be accessed one of two ways: following the link: https://www.forevermissed.com/patricia-ann-bulliner or going to the Website www.forevermissed.com and search “Bulliner” at the top of the page.
She was the oldest of seven children born to Mary and Ferrell Mastin on Nov. 13, 1941. She grew up in Chickasaw, Ala., a suburb of Mobile as the oldest child in a large loving family. She graduated in 1960 from Vigor High School where she was an excellent student and cheerleader and was selected Miss Vigor during her senior year. She was also selected to represent her school as an Azalea Trail Maid in the Mobile Azalea Trail Court, an honored tradition dating back to 1929. Her beauty was truly captivating.
Her beautiful smile and warm personality could light up a room and make you feel special. She carried her energy and enthusiasm into the workplace after high school working in Mobile and then with American Oil Company in Atlanta, Ga. While in Atlanta, she met her future husband, Larry Bulliner, and they married a year later on Dec. 2, 1962 at the Forest Park Church of Christ, beginning their 60-year marriage. They continued to live and work in the Atlanta area until their first child, Kimberly Ann, was born in August 1964. At the end of 1965, the Bulliner’s moved to Knoxville for Larry to do graduate studies at the University of Tennessee while continuing to work full-time. Their second child, Kara Lee, arrived in 1967 followed by Zachary Wayne in 1973. In 1969, she and Larry began their small business, Urban Engineering, where they continued to work until their retirement in 2005. In 2008, they moved back to Atlanta to be with their children and grandchildren. They attended and supported the Church of Christ in all the places they lived.
She was a people-person, and many of her friendships have lasted a lifetime. She never met a stranger, and everyone who did meet her was taken by her warm smile, kindhearted spirit and welcoming hospitality. She was an exceptional wife, mother, grandmother and friend, always putting the needs of her family above her own. In addition to being full-time office manager at the family business, she taxied three children to their various sports, taught children’s Sunday school, was active in school PTA, garden clubs, bowling leagues and golf leagues, and even took ice skating and ski lessons just to be with her children. She traveled extensively to their ice-skating competitions/ice hockey games and was their biggest cheerleader. Her favorite hobby was gardening, and her beautifully landscaped grounds were filled with over seven types of ornamental gardens. Her favorite saying was, “Always take time to smell the roses,” and she did! She and Larry also attended UT home football and basketball games together for over 30 years. She particularly enjoyed vacationing on the Alabama gulf coast and the Homestead in Virginia beginning with a 1962 honeymoon and numerous anniversary visits over the years. She affectionately known as “Mama Pat” by her grandchildren.
She was a faithful Christian all her life and believed in helping others whether it was providing home cooked meals, opening her home to youth groups, making flower arrangements for church events or just helping someone in need. While visiting an elderly widow from church, she noticed the home was in poor shape, so she bought a bucket of paint and painted several rooms of the house in one weekend! She was defined by her strong faith in God and had a special place in her heart for the elderly shut-ins who were dependent on others.
She is survived by her devoted husband of 60 years, Larry Bulliner; their three children: Kim Hogan, Kara (Rick) Farmer and Zach (Abby) Bulliner; her four grandchildren, Drew (Alana) Hogan, Conner Hogan, Bailey Bulliner and Molly Bulliner; six brothers and sisters, Ferrell Mastin, Jr., Linda (John) Hord, Sandra (Lester) Brown, Sharon (Bill deceased) McFadden, Charles (Paulette) Mastin and Larry (Lisa) Mastin; and many loved ones on both sides of her family.
