Michael George Cullis passed peacefully, surrounded by family, February 9, 2024. He was born in East Millcreek, Utah, February 7, 1940, to George S. and Josephine Pepper Cullis. His family eventually moved to Butlerville/Cottonwood Heights in 1949. Mike was student body president of Butler Elementary where he developed an early interest in art. His mother taught him to read by learning the acronyms for baseball in the newspaper. He followed Jackie Robinson’s career. Mike was also elected student body president of Union Junior High, but all of the ninth graders from surrounding schools were combined to attend a new school, Mount Jordan Junior High that fall. The officers for the new school were selected by the administration instead of the students. He was the co-president of the Red Cross Club his senior year and a member of Key Club at Jordan High School. Mike was a Beetdigger until the day he died! He has a commemorative brick in the alumni patio at the new school. As a young man he even pulled his car over next to Jordan, got out and sang the school song with his future in-laws in the back seat!
He met Ann Reynolds in Biology II at the University of Utah their freshman year. Their first date was to the University of Utah Ballet which later became Ballet West. A music professor handed Mike his own personal tickets for a performance later that evening. Mike went to the Union Building to look up Ann’s phone number. After two lectures from Ann: she didn’t date on school nights, and she didn’t accept dates with such little notice, she agreed to go. Mike graduated from the U in April 1963 with a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts. He was the first college graduate in his family. Mike and Ann were married in the Salt Lake Temple September 4, 1963. The young couple reported to the US Army November 5, 1963. Mike became a 1st Lieutenant and served two years at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs. He loved to share stories about his “Army days” including a top secret mission escorting nuclear warheads to an Army base in Germany.
After the Army, Mike, Ann and their young daughter, Amanda, moved to Venice and then Los Angeles, California, so he could find work in advertising. While there he worked for Fredericks of Hollywood, Revell Models, Keith Bright Design and Mattel Toys. In 1972 he moved his family of four, now with their young son, Noah, back home to accept a position as an Art Director with David W. Evans Advertising in downtown Salt Lake City. He was there for nearly 30 years. He worked on accounts for Utah Power & Light, Zions Bank, Franklin Quest, the Salt Lake 2002 Winter Olympics and many others. Another daughter, Mary Liberty Ann, was born in Salt Lake City in 1976.
Mike was the ultimate people person! One day a co-worker and he were about to cross State Street heading to the food court at the ZCMI Center for lunch. A crowd of people came walking down the street. This group included the mayor, the governor, the head of Zions Bank, the head of First Security Bank, (not walking together) and the assistant editor of the Deseret News. They were all coming from a meeting. Many of them gestured “Hello,” or actually called Mike by name. The co-worker asked if he knew everyone? And then a gardener down in the ground, digging out a flower box, hollered, “Hey, Mike!” Mike extended his hand and pulled him up out of the hole. Mike saw this man often working in the city gardens around town while walking to work. That man in the hole was just as important to Mike as the dignitaries of the city; Mike was a friend to everyone.
Mike was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served as a counselor in three bishoprics: twice in the 33rd Ward and once in the Brighton Gardens Care Center Branch. He was the Scoutmaster when his son was in Scouting. One Boy Scout was not a member of the Church. Years later this young man said to a ward member, Mike was the best youth leader he ever had. The ward member replied, “Mike is the best guy I know!” A highlight for Mike every year was the 33rd Ward annual campout at the Spruces campground in Big Cottonwood Canyon. He’d go up a day early just to relax with a good book, a bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken and a 6-pack of Coke hidden in the stream to stay cold. He did his best to take care of the ward members.
After he retired, Mike served hundreds of hours as a Fort Douglas Military Museum docent twice a week until Covid closed the museum. In 2007, Mike was honored as their Volunteer of the Year. He also was awarded the Super Uber Award in 2016 because he picked up docents who could no longer drive so they could serve their shift. He loved working in his gardens and yard. He and Ann became Master Gardeners through the USU program.
Above all, it was family and friends who brightened Mike’s day. His children could call for help anytime day or night, and we did! He hosted sleepovers with his grandchildren and attended their many school programs and sporting events. Mike and Ann visited Paris several times. They loved the art museums and the Giverny gardens. Mike enjoyed painting Utah landscapes, a cold can of Coke, Three Musketeers candy bars, chocolate-chocolate Dunford doughnuts, old country music and Gwenyth, his silver Mustang convertible.
Our family wishes to thank Juan, Hannah and Wendy with Inspiration Hospice for loving care.
Mike is survived by his wife of 60 years. Children: Mandi and Bob Kerr of Salt Lake City, Noah and KayDee Cullis of Dublin, Texas, Mary and Pat Bentley of Salt Lake City. Grandchildren: Kristen and Conor Hodgson, Michael and Carleigh Kerr, Lauren and Tanner Teeples, Elder Ethan Cullis serving in Argentina, Buenos Aires South Mission. Great grandchildren: Oliver Kerr, Baby Boy Teeples due in April. Brother Greg (Butch) Cullis, brother-in-law Don and Jennifer Reynolds, sister-in-law Lori Reynolds, many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents, sister Joy and her husband Wayne Walker, sister-in-law Annie Cullis, brothers-in-law Peter Reynolds and John Reynolds. Ann’s parents Levi and Elizabeth Reynolds.
There will be an Evening Visitation, Friday, February 16, 2024, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary, 3401 S Highland Drive, SLC, UT 84106; Morning Visitation will be held Saturday Feb. 17, 2024, 9:00-9:45 a.m, Funeral Services will follow at 10:00 a.m. in the Wasatch Lawn Chapel. Interment will follow directly after the funeral service at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery.
