George Cullum III passed away on December 8, 2024, in Lubbock, TX.  Funeral service will be on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 3:00 PM at the Meadow Musical in Meadow, TX with Rev. Alan Ehlo officiating. Visitation will take place an hour before the Funeral at the same location. Arrangements are under the supervision of Bartley Funeral Home of Plainview, TX.

George L. Cullum III was born on April 9, 1956. But he was almost not born George…. For many days before his birth, his parents Janice S. Watson Cullum and George L. Cullum Jr., could not agree on a name for the boy. Janice passed out soon after his birth, and when the hospital official came by to get his name for the birth certificate, his father said "we are calling him George!" The name stuck, though he soon came to be known as Little George. George loved being a cowboy, a policeman, playing with toy guns, swimming, telling stories, talking, and of course getting into trouble. With his natural charm and a bit of quick thinking he was always able to get out of any tricky situation. As a kid his biggest nemesis was his little sister Jean Ann Cullum Blum, they locked horns repeatedly as kids and teenagers, but as adults they formed a lifelong friendship. He also loved his little brother Troy G. Cullum. He loved being a big brother to him, and their strong bond lasted decades until Troy passed away in 2018. His parents raised him in the Church of Christ, where he was baptized as a teenager.

After experiencing a freak firearm mishap with a friend as a teenager George became a certified firearms instructor, a passionate advocate for gun safety, and the second amendment. If George wants us to remember anything he said, it is that the most dangerous gun is the "unloaded gun." If you had a firearms question you would ask George. If you needed a bullet proof vest you would ask George. His skill with firearms, he was a deadeye, and respect for the law allowed him to become a reserve sheriff's deputy in Dallas County. George was not just passionate about firearms, he was very passionate for the ladies. Very few could resist his cowboy charm and swagger. He was the Matthew McConaughey of West Texas. He loved cigars and country music and music halls. His love of music halls was shared by his girlfriend, country music singer and music hall curator Mary Beth Ashburn. For 24 years they loved each other and partnered together in everything, until he rode off into the sunset December 8, 2024.

To George death was not an unfamiliar guest. After graduating from Plano High School, he pursued a career in the funeral industry. He graduated mortuary school from the Dallas Institute of Funeral Service in 1991 at the top of his class and comforted hundreds of families during their times of loss. He served as a funeral director for more than 33 years in Lubbock and surrounding areas. He was a perfectionist at his art and well respected in the funeral industry.

George is survived by his daughter Kristin Cullum and his son Clinton Cullum, his sister Jean Ann Cullum Blum, many cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends all across the great state of Texas. He is very deeply missed. Happy Trails to you George, until we meet again.