George Bartley “Smokey” Mullin

August 20,1964 – August 2, 2018

George Bartley Mullin died on August 2, 2018, in Colorado Springs, after a courageous 9 month battle with cancer of the lung, bones, and brain.

Born in Radford, VA, on August 20, 1964, George was the first son of Bartley and Martha Mullin. Named for his grandfather and father, who once worked as forest rangers, George was nicknamed Smokey after the brave, fire-preventing bear.

George grew up in Clifton Park, NY, and attended Shenendehowa Central Schools. As a youngster, Smokey was a star little league baseball player. An avid skier from an early age, he won a trophy in a slalom race at the Hickory Hill Follies in Warrensburg, NY, in 1972.

George learned to cook in his mother’s kitchen and as a young man, he dazzled friends and family with his culinary creations. He went on to become a chef in fine restaurants in NY and Florida.

In 1994, George followed his skier’s heart to the Rocky Mountains and Monarch Ski Area, where he oversaw food services and organized banquets of up to 350 guests. Off the slopes, in Colorado Springs, George was lead line cook and kitchen supervisor at Phantom Canyon, where he enjoyed making the daily specials and flirting.

After becoming a Dad in 1998, George wanted to spend weekends with his family, so he traded his chef’s hat for a hard hat. He embarked on a new career in the construction industry, after taking a Caterpillar heavy equipment operator course with his Uncle Bruce Mullin.

George was a hard worker, earning respect for his willingness to do “whatever it takes” to accomplish a job. He picked up hammers, shovels and pickaxes, as well as operated front-end loaders, backhoes, dozers and excavators. As a heavy equipment operator, George fulfilled a childhood dream of driving the “big boy toys” on many construction sites in Colorado.

When George showed up at the job site, everyone knew that they better have things done right. As Superintendent of Plant Operations, George might have been demanding, but he truly cared about his employees. Some of the guys at Trax Construction considered George as their father or brother; co-worker Ernie Garcia even named his son after him.

In his time off, George enjoyed watching his beloved NY Jets and NY Yankees on the biggest TV he could find. He coached his son’s sports teams, and was Coach of the Year for the Flag Football League in 2009.

Many people heard about George’s epic trips to Lake Michigan to fish with his father and uncles, to Cripple Creek to play slots, or to Wyoming for 4th of July fireworks. Most people did not know that George was a keen Scrabble player, and had published poetry as a member of the International Society of Poets. He grew white roses and giant heirloom pumpkins. His favorite books were the Bible and the marijuana bible.

At his core, George was a devoted father, brother and son, dedicated to his family. George’s proudest moment was seeing his son Christopher Jae give a speech at his high school graduation in 2017.

George was a strong-willed, independent and tenacious man who lived a full life in 53 years. George’s family and friends agree with his home health doctor, Chris Ruskey, who said, “Smokey was a wonderful, dynamic, crazy guy. It was an honor to be a part of his life.”

George is survived by his son, Christopher Jae Mullin; partner Carrie J. (CJ) Chilson and son Alex Chilson; mother and stepfather, Martha and Gene Smelser (Florida); sister Fran Mullin (Maine); sister Beth, brother-in-law Don and nephew Daniel Daugherty (Florida); brother Chris K. Mullin, sister-in-law Lisa Clark, and niece and nephew, Rose and Desmond Mullin (New York). George is preceded in death by his father, Bartley Mullin.

George’s family and friends will hold a celebration of life, including BBQ and beer on his back deck overlooking Pikes Peak, at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Christopher Jae Mullin Scholarship Fund, ENT Credit Union, 1772 West Uintah Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80904 (Routing number 307070005, Account number 68429701).