Donald Rhett Mullikin

Donald Rhett Mullikin — builder of banks, churches, houses, lamps, race tracks, and the world’s best fried egg sandwich — passed away recently, leaving behind a world that was considerably more interesting for having had him in it.

Born February 10, 1950 to George Reid Mullikin and Elizabeth “Lib” Bradberry Mullikin, Rhett came into this life determined to make things. He built with his hands, he built with his imagination, and on weekend mornings, he built breakfast: white bread, a fried egg, mayo. Simple. Perfect. Inexplicably the best sandwich you ever had. That was Rhett: he had a gift for making ordinary things feel like something special.

He was the kind of dad who let you eat chocolate cake for breakfast, who handed you a cold slice of pizza in the morning without apology, who took you down into the pasture with long sticks so you could be hobbits and elves fighting orcs together in Middle Earth. He held you up so you could dip your feet in wet concrete when he built the swimming pool. He taught you to swim. He let you watch war movies maybe a little too young, because he believed in letting kids be kids — really, fully, wonderfully curious kids.

Rhett was the life of the party. He was creative, hilarious, and difficult, which is often how the best people are. He is survived by his children Erin Jade Mullikin (spouse Gwendolyn Franklin), Lauren Glen Lengyel (spouse Rengga San Lengyel; and their child Ren Yarrow Lengyel), and Ryan Sanders Mullikin (spouse Brittany Thompson; and their children Marilynd Rose, Kenneth Sanders, and Cory James Mullikin). He leaves behind people who will spend the rest of their lives trying — and failing — to replicate that fried egg sandwich. Not because the recipe was complicated, but because he made it.

In his own words, from his personal directives:
“To my children, family and friends, it has been my greatest joy and pleasure to have loved and know each of you — you have given me joy and happiness beyond measure. Do not cry or feel pity for me, for I have lived a full and happy life that you have been the best part of. Live your lives to the fullest, without regrets, enjoy and be thankful for every moment that God gives you, be kind, love and support each other, remember you are family, forever. I love each of you more than you will ever know and I appreciate everything you did for me.”

Donald Rhett Mullikin was preceded in death by his wife, Sherry Mullikin, his mother, his father, and his brother, Dwight Reid Mullikin.