Stephen Mallory Tully

Stephen Mallory Tully, 81, passed away at the McKee Medical Center in Loveland Colorado with family at his side on the morning of Sunday, November 13, 2022. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and friend.

Stephen was born March 18, 1941, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Gladys Elizabeth and William Edwin Tully. He was the youngest of three children, which included his older brother William Edwin Jr (“Sonny”) and sister Sue. Stephen was raised in Jacksonville and Hialeah, Florida.

Stephen developed a love for the outdoors in his early years that would be with him for the rest of the life. He attended Englewood High School in Jacksonville where he met his future wife, Carolyn Ann Major. Stephen and Carolyn graduated together in 1959. After high school, Stephen went to the University of Florida in Gainesville to continue his education. After completing one year at UF, he enlisted as an Airman in the United States Air Force.

Stephen married Carolyn, his high school sweetheart, on September 30, 1961. They became the parents of two children, Stephen Mallory Tully Jr on August 19, 1962, and Linda Jean Tully on August 17, 1964. Stephen’s Air Force career took him and the family to many locations including Florida, Colorado, Germany, Libya, Wyoming, Texas, Korea, and Nebraska.

Stephen started his career maintaining and repairing F4 fighter jets as an electronics and avionics technician. In 1968, the Air Force approved Stephen’s request to continue his college education at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering in 1970 and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant.

He supported and managed critical classified programs for Strategic Air Command in Nebraska, North Dakota, California, and the Pentagon. After a distinguished 22-year military career, he retired from the Air Force in September 1980. Stephen continued his defense career in the private sector with Lockheed, Civil Service, TRW, Lockheed Martin, and NDP. During this time, Carolyn and Stephen lived in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and Tennessee. His work also involved assignments in Australia and England. Carolyn and Stephen made a final move to Loveland in 2011 and he retired in 2014.

Stephen mentioned many times how much he enjoyed the Loveland area, and that was his favorite place to live. He had several favorite hobbies related to the outdoors including traveling, hiking, visiting the mountains, and interacting with animals. His family often referred to him as the “Animal Whisperer”. Stephen’s favorite hobby and life-long passion was his family, and family was always his number one priority. He was loved and admired by everyone that knew him. Stephen was a kind, respectful, funny, soft-spoken person who led by example, and worked hard to achieve his goals. He could always be depended on to do his part and do his best.

Stephen is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and son Stephen Jr. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, sister, and daughter Linda Jean Cousins. His grandchildren include Michael Scott Cousins, William Cade Cousins, Derek James Tully, Mark Edward Tully, Catherine Marie Tully, and Matthew Lee Tully. His great grandchildren include Hylah Jane Cousins, Huxley Neal Cousins, Harrison Levi Woodruff, and Aurora Jean Cousins.

A memorial service to celebrate Stephen’s life will be held on Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 9:00am, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1445 W 28th Street, Loveland, Colorado. The burial service, including full military honors, will be held in the afternoon at 1:00pm in Greenhill Cemetery in Laramie, Wyoming.

If you would like to send flowers, please send them to Allnutt Funeral Service at 2100 N Lincoln Ave, Loveland, CO 80538 to arrive before 4p on Fri, Nov 18th, 2022.

If you would like to do something in lieu of flowers, you can make a donation to your favorite charity on Stephen’s behalf.