In Loving Memory of Spencer Ryan Mullenaux

In Memory of  

Spencer Ryan Mullenaux 

September 20, 1991 – February 4, 2023 

 

 Spencer Ryan Mullenaux, endearingly known by many as Spence, left this world on February 4, 2023 and “kick flipped” into heaven at the age of 31. 

 He was born in Greeley, Colorado on September 20, 1991 to Thomas and Tamarine Mullenaux, the middle child of three sons. In his early teens he moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado where he attended Coronado High School and graduated in 2009. He continued his education more recently at Ashford University Global Campus, where he studied Information Technology and was on the Dean’s List. 

 Spencer secured a job at T-Mobile where he worked for eight years. He was recently promoted to an Associate Engineer. It was there where he met the love of his life, Brittany Nethery. They were engaged in 2020 and were planning their wedding. Spence often told her, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is,” a quote from one of his favorite movies, Forrest Gump. 

 Spencer had a playful, irreverent sense of humor that he tailored to the individual, ranging from puns to pranks.  On the gentle side, he would tease Brittany in a loving way.  He once played a joke on his grandma, Julianne, by installing a pet cat app on her phone where digital cats would pop up to be fed and multiply.  He anonymously prank called his mother for years “Hey Lady! Do you have Jell-O?”.  With his friends, nephews, and cousins, he was into more full body physical, camp classics, such as cellophane over the toilet and seats and baking powder in a catsup bottle.  When his Aunt Lisa fixed something on a car that he had been struggling with, he stripped off his shirt and rolled into the trunk, closing it behind him as a funny acknowledgement of her besting him in that moment.  He also loved musical humor, teaching sassy songs to a whole parade of children, like the “Pied Piper of Fun”.  He could not resist a good cut-out figure moment.  He once orchestrated a cousin filled horror movie on the fly.   He would just show up and ask who would want to do something.  Although Spencer didn’t have children of his own, he was Uncle to all.  He held his friends’ infants and cavorted with the toddlers.  Children young and old were always welcome.  He included everyone.  He had a gift of loving others as they wanted to be loved. 

 He had a passion for billiards and was a member of the American Pool Association, where he played in the Masters League. His teammates jokingly referred to him as “Dad.” Skateboarding, hiking, camping and “porch time” with friends were some of his other passions, which he pursued with a focused determination, always giving his best. He loved the Harry Potter book series and Lord of the Rings, introduced and encouraged by his mother. His father, Tom recalls a cold December day, where they walked out the front door together and hiked up the steep trail to Blodgett Peak, sharing sandwiches and life at the top.  

 He loved body art and music; one of his favorite rappers was Biggie Smalls. Brittany fondly remembers one night when Spence rapped her a lullaby to sleep. He had a gentle nature, but was strong and protective. He was highly intuitive, creative and had a deep, thoughtful soul. He was always the encourager, lifting people up and making them laugh. He was notorious for his impressions of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Alan Rickman. Spence and his roommates only spoke in Arnolds’s accent for six months, tantalizing his friends and family. He would walk up to people, and ask in his Russian accent, “Where is the great American Peaks Pike?” His enthusiasm for life and infectious smile will be greatly missed.  

 Spencer was deeply loved by his brothers, Christopher and Ben Mullenaux, his best friend. They spent much time together playing pool and hiking the Colorado trails.  

 Spencer was preceded in death by his dear friend, Pete Davis. He is survived by his loving fiancée, Brittany Nethery, and their three fur babies: Candy, Miska, and Norbu (Boo); his parents, Thomas and Tamarine Mullenaux; his step-mother Kathryn Mullenaux; his brothers, Christopher and Benjamin Mullenaux; his grandparents, Lee and Julianne Mullenaux and Barbara and Andrew (Kathy) Neill; his step sister Kimberly (Michael) Espinoza and his step brother, Alan (Beth) Kultgen; his uncles and aunts: Angelique Mullenaux, Michelle (Gary) Vassar, James (Donell) Mullenaux, Suzanne (Kurtis) Dunham, Sam (Cassie) Mullenaux, Amy Neill, Lisa (Mike) Malone, Travis (Andrea) Neill, Angel Scott, and Jesse Scott; his cousins Collin, Audrey, Lolly, Ethan, Jaeger, Olympia, Piper, Amanda, Ty, Kennedy, Tommy, Mark, Alyssa, and Rayden; his nieces and nephews; Madilyn, Aaron, Emma, Eli, Ava, Emmet, Jacob, Georgia, and Penelope.  

 A memorial service for Spencer will be held at Woodmen Valley Chapel, Rockrimmon Campus, 280 E. Woodmen Rd., Colorado Springs, Colorado, in the Stone Chapel on Thursday, February 16th at 10:00 am with a reception to follow. Please leave cards, condolences, and special written memories at the Stone Chapel. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in memory of Spencer to a GoFundMe account organized by Brittany’s sister, Ashley Ayuso, at https://gofund.me/b19c816c.  In lieu of donations, please consider seeking joy in your daily life, form bonds of friendship and family, and be nice to others.  Spencer’s final earthly resting place is in Crystal Valley Cemetery in Manitou Springs, Colorado.  The Return to Nature Funeral Home assisted the family.