Gaylia Ramona (Murley) Bullock

BALDWYN -   Gaylia Ramona Murley Bullock was born January 20, 1928, in the Dry Creek community to Adolphus Erastus and Myrtle Maude Murley. She departed this life December 21, 2019, at the age of 91. Ramona was the fourth of six children and the youngest daughter. She grew up during the Depression and lost her father at a young age. She was educated at the Dry Creek Schoolhouse and spent many happy days with siblings, cousins and friends, picking cotton and just being together. One by one her older sisters sought fortunes in "the big city", settling in Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana. Ramona found her fortune "on the Creek" by marrying Howard "Monk" Bullock in 1944. Monk named her "Cotton" for her beautiful blonde hair and affectionately called her by that name until the day he died. They shared more than sixty years together until his death in 2007. While their fortune did not include wealth or even financial comfort, they were rich nonetheless.

Monk and Cotton raised three children: Sandra McCoy, Betty Cartwright and Greg Bullock. After they buried their precious daughter Betty in 1986 they became surrogate parents to her girls, Shelia and Patricia. Cotton was an accomplished seamstress, an incredible cook and a master gardener. These gifts were not her hobbies- these were skills she developed to feed and clothe her family. Her greatest gift was having a servant's heart. She served her family, her friends and the community with her many talents. She reluctantly slowed down over the years, but she never stopped and was already planning her garden for the Spring. Her greatest joy came from taking care of others, especially children. She was blessed to care for her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, as well as her siblings: Ruby Cater, Dorothy Bates, Leona Lowrie, Wayne Murley and Duane Murley. She was also predeceased by her daughters, Betty Faye in 1986 and Sandra Kay in 2018. She leaves to cherish her memory her son Greg Bullock (Laura), her son in law Ernie McCoy, her grandchildren, Traci Rainey (Eddie), Christi McCoy, Shelia Owens and Patricia Cartwright; great-grandchildren Tiffany Brown (Kevin), Tara Fleming (Adam), Kayla Moore, Heather Evans (Bradley), Connor Moore, Grace Smith and Julia Smith; great great-grandchildren, Emery, Naomi, Lily, Elinore, Asher and Ivy.

A celebration of life will be held Monday, December 23, 2019, at 4 pm in the chapel of Kesler Funeral Home with Bro. Kerry Powell officiating. The family will receive visitors an hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Mr. Zion Cemetery.

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