Ailena Mulkey

Ailena Rene Mathis Mulkey born in Odessa, Texas on May 18, 1977 to Alton Mathis and Brenda Wheeler. She was raised in Crane, Texas, where she graduated high school. Even as a young girl, she always had the heart of a caregiver, so it was no surprise when she decided to be a nurse. She got her LVN and RN from Odessa College then went to the University of Texas El Paso to obtain her Bachelors of Nursing. She was a Certified Research Coordinator, an EMT and a firefighter. She was studying the Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner Program at the University of Texas El Paso at the time of her death.

Ailena married the love of her life, Danny Mulkey on September 9, 2009. She was an adoring mom to Alyson, Mary, Amanda, Samantha and Skyler.

Ailena conquered her earthly struggles and joined Jesus on May 19, 2022 at University Medical Center Hospital in Lubbock, Texas.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Katie and Kenneth Wheeler and Nollie and Vernon Butler; grandson, Baby Cole Masterson; father, Alton Mathis; uncle, Nathan McLaughlin; and aunts, Theresa Halbert, Cindy Tucker and Felicia Adams.

She leaves to cherish her memories her husband, Danny of Crane; children, Alyson Masterson (Darren) of Odessa, Mary and Amanda Kaschak of Crane, Samantha Saenz (Matthew) of Virginia, and Skyler Mulkey of Stanton; her mother, Brenda Mathis of Crane; sister, Rache Marcom (Mike) of Midland; brother, Wayne Mathis of Crane; Grandchildren, Amberly and Kinsley Saenz of Virginia; lifelong friend, Michael Maturin of Crane and her best friend, Marc Heiser of Crane; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, her work family and her fire department family.

Ailena’s most prized accomplishment was her children. She loved spending time with her family and close friends. She enjoyed tending to her flowers and plants, listening to rock and roll music while drinking a cold Coors Light, dancing and spending time in nature, especially at the lake. She was passionate about her work with Texas Tech Health Sciences Center where she worked as the director of clinical research operations. She was also very devoted to the Crane Volunteer Fire Department where she was an EMT and a fire fighter.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 21^st at 5:00 pm at Shaffer Nichols Funeral Home in Crane, Texas. Funeral services are scheduled for Sunday, May 22 at 2:00 pm. Burial will follow in the Crane Cemetery.

Ailena left a tiny piece of herself in everyone she knew and loved.

“How can the dead be truly dead when they still live in the souls of those who are left behind?” ~Carson McCullers

The Mulkey family would like to offer their sincere and heartfelt thanks to the nurses, providers, surgeons, students and faculty of the University Medical Center and Texas Tech Health Sciences Center for their extraordinary and thorough care, comfort and compassion.