James Earl McMullen

James Earl McMullen, 71, passed away on December 20, 2023 in the Vitas Hospice Center at the University of Miami Hospital surrounded by his nieces and nephews. Jim was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on June 4, 1952 to Robert and Mary Ellen (Clark) McMullen.

Jim grew up in Rosedale, IN, graduating from Rosedale High School in 1970. He earned a BS Degree in Arts and Political Science from Indiana State University in 1974. Jim then continued his post secondary education in Bloomington, IN, graduating from Indiana University in 1979 from both the School of Law and the School of Public and Environmental Affairs.

From Indiana, Jim relocated to Washington, D.C. ultimately becoming the Budget Director for the US Department of Labor. He was the recipient of the Phillip Arnow award in 2004 which is the highest award given in the DOL. He continued as a consultant after his retirement, worked for the DNC, and was also involved in city government once fully retiring and moving to Florida.

For the past several years he has been a resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, enjoying retirement with the friends he has collected along his journey of life. Jim also traveled the world with his friends from Australia to all of Europe to South America to spending summers in France. His life was full of travel, sunshine, wine and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and older brother John McMullen, who passed away April 16, 2023. He is survived by his younger brother Bill (Linda) McMullen and sister-in-law, Marilyn McMullen. He is also survived by his nieces and nephews who loved and admired him: Jayne Ann (Eric Swander) Virostko, Mandy (Brian) Hopton, Holly (Dan) Hazzard, JR (Angie) McMullen, Todd (Monica) McMullen, Michael McMullen, Rob (Candice) McMullen, and Brock (Alesha) McMullen. His great nieces and nephews were also impacted greatly by Uncle Jim: Emily and Jonathon Virostko, Mark Swander; Kaci, Brandon, Derron, and Kayli Hazzard; BJ, Jacob and Kayla Hopton; Ty and Jay McMullen, Megan, Kyle and Kolby Fischer; Carter and Camryn McMullen; Wyatt and Jaxon McMullen.

Jim’s family wishes to thank lifelong special friends, Brion Cook, Marsha McAllister and Dr. David Haddox for their extraordinary care during the last few months of his life. They traveled together to Alaska and Vancouver in September and then were his advocates and caregivers through his diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia to treatment, hospitalization and ultimate passing.

The family is also thankful for the care he received on the University of Miami Hospital 11th Floor and from Dr. Watts and his team from the Sylvester Cancer Center.

Services for Jim will be held in both Fort Lauderdale, FL and Rosedale, IN. Florida services will be held on Saturday, January 27 at Island City Stage, 2304 Dixie Highway, Wilton Manors, FL. Visitation will be held from 1 - 3 pm with a time for sharing from friends and family at 3:00 pm.

Jim was a donor and patron of Island City Stage, the family requests in lieu of flowers donations may be made to the theater in his memory.

Per his wishes, cremation rites were accorded and entrusted to Kraeer-Fairchild Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Fort Lauderdale. Jim’s remains will be buried near family in the Rosedale Cemetery with services in Rosedale scheduled for Saturday, February 24 at Cottrell-Gooch Funeral Home.

It can be a great comfort to a grieving person or family to hear that others thought highly of their loved one, too. If you knew and admired James, be sure to let the family know by writing a few words in the "Memory" section of his obituary on the Kraeer - Fairchild Funeral Home website. www.KraeerFairchild.com