Art Cullison’s brother passes away

Don Cullison, brother of former BJ copy editor the late Art Cullison, passed away Tuesday, March 10 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Their parents were Ernest and Emma Cullison.

Don moved to Murfreesoro from Akron in 2010 to be near his children.

Art, who retired in 1985 after 36 years at the BJ, passed away in 2012. His wife, Helen, joined him in the afterlife in 2014.

Art also was assistant State Desk editor and TV, movie and night club reviewer at Ol’ Blue Walls on 44 E. Exchange Street.

I remember the time that Art realized that he had put his foot in his mouth when he came over to my TV Editor desk. He was the copy editor of an article I had written and he was going to impress upon me that I should write the way you would talk to the reader, not in a stilted language, as I'm sure he often had done to other reporters.

Art began: “You sure do talk funny.” My response: "Yeah, I do. Since birth."

Then he realized that my speech was distorted by my cleft palate deformity from birth. The look on Art’s face when he realized the gaffe of what he had said to someone who does, indeed, “talk funny” because of a birth defect, was priceless.

Have you ever heard Art Cullison stutter? I did when his remark hit his brain. And blush. One of the most erudite people in the BJ newsroom, out-done only by Hal Fry, had a language misstep. Even the king can do wrong, huh?

Since I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with people embarrassed by my deficiency, I shrugged it off. Just another instance for me, like women who mouth the words as I talk to try to help me speak clearer. Well-meaning, but noticeable to those of us with a handicap as a constant reminder of our handicap.

Don Cullison’s obituary:

Donald W. Cullison

Donald Cullison, 92, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 morning surrounded by his family in Murfreesboro, TN. He was born in Akron, Ohio on April 21, 1927 to the late Ernest and Emma Cullison. He was a WWII veteran and served in the Army-Air Force from 1945-1947; and retired from the post office in 1982 after 39 years of service. Don was a member of Firestone Park United Methodist Church, an active member and past Master of Victory Lodge #649, and a past Monarch of Yusef Khan Grotto until 2010 when he relocated to Murfreesboro with his wife, SaraJane, to be near his family. Don was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 62 years, SaraJane; brothers and sisters-in-law, Karl Cullison (Ruby) and Art (Helen Louise) Cullison. Don is survived by his daughter, Judith Hennessy (Francis De-Sales) of Murfreesboro, TN, and son, William (Brenda) of North Canton OH; granddaughters, Amber (Aaron) Schmuhl of Murfreesboro, TN, and Dr. Jennifer Cullison of Perrysburg Ohio; and great granddaughters, Isabella, Chloe and Alice Schmuhl of Murfreesboro, TN. Private family services will be held with the Reverend Francis De-Sales Hennessy, III officiating. Burial will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery where American Legion Post #566 will conduct military honors. The family would like to thank the staff of the Villages of Murfreesboro for their love and care of Don. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the LaVergne First United Methodist Church at 248 Old Waldron Road, LaVergne, TN 37086, or to the Villages of Murfreesboro at 2550 Willow Oak Trail, Murfreesboro, TN 37129. The Schlup Pucak Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cullison family. Messages and memories of Donald can be shared at schluppucakfh.com  .