MULEY & WEST WORLD

In 2008, Muley went to the premiere of a new convention: ConNooga. While there, he shot an episode of Mule on the Street: ConNooga. One of the folks he interviewed was Ed Crandell, author of "West World." Mr. Crandell has posted some raw footage of his interview on the internet, and you can see this by clicking the photo of Muley and Ed.

Memorial Day Wishes

It’s Memorial Day, and Muley, his friends and I want to remind everyone to remember the brave men and women who have given their lives to protect truth, justice, and freedom. It’s also a time to give thanks to those who have served and are still living, and those who are working hard right now to serve our country. With memory and heartfelt thanks, we wish you a great Memorial Day.

PAPA ROY TRIBUTE PART 2

Here are some memories of Papa Roy:
http://muley.freeforums.org/papa-roy-rhea-tribute-t93.html#128

In Loving Memory of Mr. Roy V. Rhea
1907 - 2009
Place of Service: Holly Springs Funeral Home
Date of Service: April 27, 2009
Burial: Cornersville Cemetery
3 Sons, 3 Daughters, 17 Grandchildren, 23 Great Grandchildren, 14 Great-Great Grandchildren
Preceded in death by his wife Ms. Ethel M. Rhea, Daughter June Johnson, Great-Granddaughter Nicole Rhea. (Illustration by Jack Chapman)

I have to send a thanks to all my friends and acquaintances for the prayers and support right now. I’d rather suffer 4 kidney stones at one time as to have had to deal with what I’ve been going through. I’m still not ‘okay’ with any of this yet, but will be one day soon I’m sure. I appreciate and love everyone.

I won’t lie: I am still deeply hurt by my loss. I keep thinking if I could get one more hug, or just watch one more gospel video tape while we hold hands and he squeezes my hand when his favorite songs come on, I would be satisfied. But through the selfishness, I wouldn’t bring him back here for even one more hug or hand-squeezing because that would be cruel compared to where he is now, and who he is with!

One of my cousins pointed out that originally our family began with Papa Roy, Granny Ethel and Aunt June. Now, again in heaven, it is just the three of them in our family again. An aunt reminded me that Papa was only an infant when his mother died, so now he has an opportunity to meet her for the first time.

I don’t know when or how I’ll ever be okay or able to deal with this loss but I know that one day I will be. My friends have all told me so, and their prayers (which mean more to me than you could imagine) will help me. Sometime or the other I’ll think of other things to share about Papa Roy and will, but for now I’d like to share some other information about my grand Grandfather.
As I stood by the coffin weeping like an infant and overlooking the greatest man I’ve ever personally known, a hand reached up and began to rub my back and a head leaned over on me and said, “It’s going to be okay. Cry if you need to.” I looked down and it is my 10 year old cousin, Cody. What a wonderful child! Later, my Uncle Jerry shared with me something that Cody had written:

By Cody Rhea, April 25, 2009
Today Papa Roy moved on to heaven and I hope he likes it there. I wish I really could talk to him one more time and say I love you.

My buddy Lin Workman posted this information on his website:
http://www.linworkman.com/2009/04/papa-roy-rhea-1907-2009/
Telling me later that, “every time I see an empty can or a pair of overalls I’ll think of Papa Roy.”

Antone Wade (my brother from another mother) posted on his website:
http://toshigawa.com/?p=342
The photo of the whole family is quite special to Antone’s family and to me. It is a complete family in that photo.

Visit and sign up for a membership at http://www.pickwicktv.com/ to see some documentaries about Papa Roy planned to be online soon.
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On the day Papa Roy went to heaven, workers were removing trees from a field behind Mama’s house. She remembers that as the largest tree fell she heard the knocks at the door from my uncle who came to tell her Papa had gone. Hearing this, I am reminded what Edwin Markham wrote about Abraham Lincoln:

When he fell in whirlwind, he went down
As when a kingly cedar, green with boughs,
Goes down with a great shout upon the hills
And leaves a lonesome place against the sky.



Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, I thought it might be fun to consider some information about Papa Roy’s history. Check here to see more about the year 1907 to see what drastic changes the world had from his birth year until now:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1832977/posts

After all, he was born the same year the first Model-T’s rolled off Ford’s assembly lines and was 3 years old when the Titanic sunk.

During the funeral service, it was mentioned that Teddy Roosevelt was President when Papa Roy was born. He lived through 19 U.S. Presidents. Rev. Williams also pointed out that Papa Roy lived through WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraq in 2003. There were 4 other US involvements in wars as well. Papa Roy says, “I was too young for one war, and too old for the other.” He also didn’t find out about things until well after it had happened because he and his family were so far out in the country while, nowadays, it’s only a TV. click away!

Papa Roy remembers the first TV. he ever watched at a friend’s house: it was a boxing match. A few years later he told his kids that if they would get the field picked quick enough he would buy them a TV, and he stayed true to his word.

Papa Roy was well-known for his honesty, whether it helped you or was something you’d rather not hear! He was the kind of man who would give the shirt off his back (although you might not like to see the results!), and was there for anyone he found honest and trustworthy--unfortunately to the point of being taken advantage of. I’ve spoken to a few who, because of his own honesty, kept them out of trouble while others, because of his strength and heroism, kept them from dying.

I can say that when I leave this world I want everyone to be able to say the same thing about me that has been said about Papa Roy.
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Papa Roy supported the Darryl Worley Foundation. Musician extraordinaire, Darryl was very sweet to my grandfather and while I’ll never be able to thank him for the personal attention he gave Papa Roy, I would like to invite everyone to visit the website and also give freely to support the foundation: http://darrylworleyfoundation.org/

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The Mississippi State Senate closed in Papa Roy's Honor

Happy Mother's Day!

Muley and I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Mother’s Day! Mothers are very important to children, even though we may not act like it sometimes. Whenever the whole world is ready to crash down around us, mothers can be our stronghold to let us know we are okay. Whenever the world turns its back on us, mothers give us love that is nonjudgemental and everlasting. Whenever we are sick, mothers can always make us better! Mothers shape and mold our ethics for our lives, and instruct us how to care about others in the world, determining the future for not just ourselves but everyone we will meet. We salute all the wonderful mothers and the hard, hard work they do to keep us happy, healthy and safe.

Soon, there will be a new Tribute to Papa Roy. Stay 'tooned!

PAPA ROY RHEA 1907 - 2009

Papa Roy Velt Rhea - October 8, 1907 - April 25, 2009

This is the end of a story about the world's greatest Grandfather ever -- of course, I am biased.

Services will be held beginning Monday at Thomas Funeral Home in Holly Springs, MS.
662.252.4331 Sunday Visitation 5 - 9 p.m. Monday Services 11 am. Call the funeral home for more information.

There will be more tribute stuff later, I'm sure, but for now:

(Pic taken Oct. 6, 2007)

Papa Roy is the kind of fellow who is glad to be made a part of something special. He taught me to appreciate the little things, thank people for the little things, and those little things soon become big things in your heart and memories. In March, he was able to come up and see Antone and Janet's baby, and since then he would ask me in every conversation how they all three were doing. When they sent him a 'thank you' card with images of the baby on it, a card he saw April 24, 2009, my mom said he had a tear in his eye and felt so special to be a part of this. A photo of all of us will be posted soon.

This weekend was fun, working Cape Girardeau Comic Con. For its size, it’s definitely a convention worth attending. It is one of the few I’ve been to that I felt welcome and wanted by the con committee.

Today, April 25, 2009, I was sitting at the table about 3:30 pm when my mom called. She said she needed to ask my buddy, Antone, a question. I gave him the phone, and he walked away. When he came back, he handed me the phone and Mama says, “I had to ask him about the baby’s room--it’s blue, right?” I said, “Yes.” “Call me tonight,” she says, “when you’re safe in your hotel room.”

I immediately knew something was wrong. I waited a few seconds and, realizing in the back of my mind something was wrong, called Papa Roy’s House. My stepfather answered, “Roy Rhea’s residence, this is Sam.”

“How is my Papa?” I asked. He told me the horrible truth that Mama couldn’t hide from me.

Last night, Mama went up to see him and he said he wasn’t feeling very well. She took him dinner and sat with him while he ate and offered to stay the night there, and he said no. “Go home so you can rest.” Later, my Uncle’s girlfriend took Papa Roy some cake and visited him for about an hour and a half.

This week, Papa had repaired his weed eater by himself (he’s 101 years old, remember) and planned to clean off his ditch this morning. So, he went down after breakfast and began working.

After getting tired, Papa Roy had gone up to the house and fixed him some cold water, then went to the front porch of his house--he always said he loved being home and he loved his little house--and sat in his favorite front porch chair, putting his walking cane (which he only began using a few years ago). He watched my uncle working in a shop down at the bottom of the hill for a little bit and then Papa Roy fell asleep on the porch.

Needing a sledge hammer after a hammer wasn't working, my uncle went up the hill and asked, "Pop, where is the sledge hammer?" No answer, so he shouted louder and jokingly, “Wake up, ol’ man! You can’t sleep if you’re supervising!” No answer. He saw that Papa Roy wasn't breathing, realized the problem and went to my other uncle's house first, then to my mom’s house who, at the door, saw his expression.

“Don’t tell me anything,” she said.

At around 10:30 am Papa Roy was gone. 101 years of a great man’s life lived well, a library of wisdom now gone, stories of the olden days have ended. The particular story for Papa Roy’s life has ended perfectly for him having fallen asleep on the front porch of his house.

I don’t have any regrets from our time together. I had 36 years of glorious years with my Papa Roy (not many get to say that about their grandfather), and I learned so much from him. His personality molded my own from the seriousness to the joking quality, I learned how to be honest and love people (from both he and Granny Ethel), and what it is you want at the end of your lifetime:

When people look back on their time with you, they should be able to say you were a great person whose life inspired you to do good things and be a good person.

His children all say the truth in their own joking ways in the Mule on the Street episode about his 100th Birthday Party. Feel free to see this video--now a tribute--to the great and wonderful Papa Roy!

Muley and MAW Productions at CAPE CON

You can now meet your favorite talking mule along with the whole team of MAW Productions at the Cape Girardeau Comic Con on Saturday April 25 and Sunday April 26. Be sure to come out and support a great convention!

Visit their website by clicking on the picture!

Happy Easter!!

Of course, we'll all remember the true reason for the holiday other than the great chocolate covered marshmallow bunnies and Marshmallow Peeps! Good Friday is the day set aside to understand Christ's being taken to the cross, and Easter is the day of his resurrection celebration! I won't have church here since this is a comic site, but wanted to remind you.

In the meantime, this video is created based on a comic strip I did when I was 10 years old.

Starring Muleton Mule, Jr., and Rabbit Haire. Photography and Mr. Haire's assistant, Lin Workman. Directed by Kevin L. Williams.


See more crazy Muley videos by clicking on MULE TV!

MEET MULEY THE MULE & KEV

Muley & MAW Productions Team Convention Appearances

Again, I'm editor for a brother of mine on his book, Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa, and we'll be hanging out at some cons this year. Want to buy comics, apparel, and collectibles, meet the team to get autographs, discuss the comics, art techniques, show your portfolio, and keep us inspired to keep creating, then you should show up to one of the locations below to meet up with your MAW Team! You can click the convention title to visit the official websites. We hope to see you there.

Mid-South Con (March 20-22, 2009)

Cape Girardeau Comic Con (April 25 & 26, 2009)

Superman Celebration (June 11-14, 2009)

Come meet Kevin L. Williams, Muley the Mule, Martheus Wade, Janet Wade, baby Anakin Wade (maybe!) You can also find other members of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association: Andrew Chandler, Lin Workman, and friends like Jay Chuppe. Not all cartoonists will appear at all the same cons as we of Muley and Jetta fame, so check the websites for appearances and guests!

Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa

A book that I edited "Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa 'Crucible'" is being re-released with a Director's Cut attitude! There will be new pages added of new art that was left out of the story originally. This book written by Jason Negen is wonderful narrative with superb art by Martheus Antone Wade. Be sure to check out more information at the website, as well as read around about buying Jetta novels and getting a FREE comic!

Jetta: Tales of the Toshigawa "DEFIANCE" Optioned for Movie

One of the books from MAW Productions that I edit has been optioned for a movie. You can read more about it by clicking the image. Click the image of Jetta to read the press release.

Also, Anakin Grayson Wade has been born--MAW Productions' creator Martheus Wade and Janet Wade's son, and my nephew. He's a beautiful baby boy and there is more information at http://www.toshigawa.com/ if you follow this link:

Anakin's Here! (Scroll Down)