Janis Jeanne Mullikin

Janis Crist Mullikin passed away on Dec. 23 in her home. Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m on Dec. 27, 2017, at Wasson Funeral Home in Siloam Springs. Funeral services are scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Dec. 28, 2017 at First Assembly of God Church in Siloam Springs. She was born at home in Van Buren County, Iowa, on June 12, 1940, to Melvin and Esther Crist, joining two older brothers and an older sister as the fourth of five children. Janis grew up on the farm and from an early age helped with chores around the homestead. She graduated a year early from high school in Douds, Iowa at age 16 in 1957, graduated with a teaching degree from Northeast Missouri State College in 1959, and began teaching 4th grade at Eldon, Iowa. She married Donald Mullikin in 1959. After one year of teaching, she stayed home to be a mom. In the following years, she would have four children and served as bookkeeper for husband Don’s business in Brighton, Iowa. Known for her musical and piano-playing abilities, Janis was instrumental in creating the Mullikin Family singers, who sang across Iowa and the surrounding states from roughly 1972-1986. Her family made two albums in Nashville, TN in 1977 and 1978. Janis also was a newspaper columnist for a newspaper in Iowa and in Siloam Springs, AR where she moved with her husband in 1994. She loved directing children’s choirs in Iowa, was a member of PEO in both Iowa and Siloam Springs and was an active member of the First Assembly of God Church in Siloam Springs. Janis could harmonize with anyone and played songs on the piano in any key needed for changing voices through the years. The family came together to sing a few hymns in September 2017 with Janis still tickling the ivories. Janis was a devoted wife, a wonderful mother to her four children, a fantastic grandmother to 10 grandchildren, and a great-grandmother to two little ones. She could talk to any stranger and gave countless hours in service to her family and the churches she attended. Through the years, Janis cheered at thousands of basketball, baseball and football games for her children and grandchildren, and then for her youngest daughter’s basketball teams in Siloam Springs. Janis is survived by her husband of 58 years, Donald Mullikin of Siloam Springs, AR; Son, Randy Mullikin and wife, Sandy of Springdale, AR; Daughter, Robbin Souer and husband, Keith of Montezuma, IA; Son, Richard Mullikin and wife, Cynda of Galveston, TX; Daughter, Rebecca Ault and husband, Kevin of Siloam Springs, AR; grandchildren Josh Mullikin, Justin Mullikin, Kelsey Phillips, Sarah Souer, Cristine Souer, Susan Souer, Smythe Mullikin, Andrew Mullikin, Ashlin Ault and Fenric Ault; great-grandchildren, Daniel Mullikin and Brookelyn Mullikin; brothers Bill Crist and Ron Crist, sisters Yvonne Strang and Marilyn Umphrey and numerous nephews and nieces and cousins. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the First Assembly of God Building Fund, 927 S Oak Hill St, Siloam Springs, AR 72761.

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Janis Jeanne Mullikin

June 12, 1940 - December 23, 2017