Marvin Mullen passed away on July 15, 2025, at the age of 76. He was born in Bremerton Junction, Washington on February 16, 1949, to Lee and Vi Mullen.

In the early 1960s the Mullen family moved from Washington to Orleans, to open up a huckleberry brush processing plant at the old Brizard Store. Soon after moving to Orleans, they were welcomed by the great ‘64 flood. At that time Marvin, attending Hoopa High School, was told to stay put as the roads to Orleans were too dangerous. Those who know him, know he didn’t listen. He worked his way back home crossing a log wedged over Bluff Creek channel that had created a new path directly to the Klamath River. Just at the end of high school, he met and had a 12- year marriage with Kathi Allen. During that time, they had their son, Richard (Richie) Mullen. Later in life, Marvin welcomed his second son, Jay Mullen.

Marvin absolutely loved the outdoors. He was raised to hunt, fish and to survive in the mountains. He took great joy in sharing this passion with his son Richie and grandsons Dan and Gavin. They had a standing tradition to meet up at Marvin’s place for their annual hunting trips. He guided bear hunts in Washington and California with his late friend Bernie Paque. He had bears that got on top of him and some that he got on top of. It has been said Marvin could catch a fish in the desert and harvest deer in the ocean. No matter where he went, he was successful outdoors. From catching a record Northern Pike in Colorado, an albino black tail deer in California, to a large, big horn sheep on the big island of Hawaii, he seemed to know just where to be.

His athleticism and endurance served him with many mountain hikes. He loved to hike into Red Cap Lake with friends and family. He tended to push the envelope in most things he did. One major hike was over the Trinity Alps from the northern side over to Junction City with one of his closest friends, Mike Neff.

His occupation consisted mostly of the timber industry, working for Arcata Redwood, Bracut Lumber and many years logging where his specialty was running a yarder. Later in his life he spent 3 years catching king crab in the Bering Sea.

Everywhere he went, he met people that presented adventures that he was open to trying. He was truly a man of adventures. While on a break in Alaska, he met and helped a person deliver fuel by flying in an old bomber plane to remote villages. On a stop in Portland from Alaska he accepted an invitation from a friend to go to Costa Rica. While in Costa Rica he met up and joined with a group of people from Europe to help study the Leather Back turtles along the coast.

He was also a fixture at the hydroplane boat races; he was always there to help his good friend, Roger Sanderson. He enjoyed this event so much that he gave it a shot himself, racing for a few years under the name of “2-Hy.”

Throughout his lifetime of adventures, he had acquired many friends that he could pick up the phone and call at any time. There is one special friend, Jim Osier, that has been by his side since they were in high school. Together they had seen it all, stood by each other through tough times and survived many amazing adventures together.

Marvin had a big personality. He was a rugged and adventurous mountain man, an intense hunter who was willing to try anything and compassionate in making time to help others in getting firewood, deer meat, bear fat for elders and offering up anything he had to help out.

In 2013, Marvin met his life partner, Terri Jones. The two of them made their home and life together in Orleans. They enjoyed countless nights sitting on their porch, overlooking the Klamath River, spotting bear, beaver, deer, and numerous other types of wildlife. They enjoyed gardening, taking walks and being companions together. Socializing with friends that dropped in to visit them was a daily way of life. As Marvin battled medical issues over the last 3 years, she was by his side doing whatever it took to keep him healthy.

He cherished hunting with his grandchildren Dan and Gavin. Fishing at Fish Lake with Zane and Taya.

He wasn’t a wealthy man in a monetary manner, but he was a wealthy man when it came to living life how he wanted to.

He is survived by his brothers Kevin Mullen (Bobbi Mullen), Mike Mullen, Dick Warden, his children Richard Mullen (Lacey Mullen) and Jay Mullen (Chelsea Mullen), Amanda Flesher (Justin Chapman), Randy Flesher, Jeremiah Jones (Jessie Jones), Brittany Jones, grandchildren Andrea Keating (Bryan Lee), Dan Keating (Zoe Keating). Gavin Keating (Ashley Keating), Zayden Valadao-Mullen, Mataya Valadao-Mullen, Marnie Beck, Perci Mullen, Nemesis Mullen, Christopher Ridenour Jr, Cody Chapman, Savannah Chapman, Joshua Jones, Danielle Jones and great grandchildren Owen Keating-Lee, Nash Keating and Teagan Keating.

Marvin is preceded in death by his father and mother (Lee and Vi), brothers Terry Mullen and Bill Beck.

In line with Marvin’s hunting manners, there will be an “Open Season” tribute on Saturday, September 13, 2025 at 2 p.m. at the Karuk Tribe Department of Natural Resources building in Orleans.

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