Bradley MULLEY

I moved to the Central African Republic in 2007, not knowing anyone. It was my first diplomatic posting; a small Embassy in a forgotten place to everyone except the Central Africans. Brad arrived as part of a forestry NGO that had USAID money to do several different environmental projects in the CAR, including a land registry. He was also a former Peace Corps Volunteer, a fellow (left-leaning) American, someone with enough Africa experience not to be amazed by everything but to be savvy enough to get around mostly independently. We met as part of his Embassy consultations, exchanged numbers, and quickly found there was little to do except hang out, drink, and gossip. He was the sole expat representative for his organization, and hired a couple local staff but had to manage the office and project on a day-to-day basis on his own. For the year and a half that we lived there he was my closest friend in the country. We would meet for drinks a Sati’s, the expat-known bar not far from work and popular with a variety of people, and get beers after work. The social schedule for the UN and NGO workers in Bangui was irregular and full of loose connections and house parties; Brad was soon connected to many of them. In those days, it was only a couple minutes before his dry but very funny humor would come out. He was direct and sometimes foul in funny ways; he enjoyed a good joke and for some reason, even though he was very straight, if I could make a good gay joke, he would laugh even harder. He was popular among the expats crowd. It can be difficult to explain at times what those environments are like; there’s both a freedom and an oppression of working in a forgotten place, and people tend to reveal themselves. In a long UN inquiry into sexual harassment that took place in Bangui against a UN worker, Brad testified against a known harasser, as the woman being harassed was a friend. This was little known but I highlight it here because it’s another example of his love for his friends and his heart. We went traveling in the countryside once or twice – my favorite memory was a visit to an eco-lodge, just barely there, with another American, where we took canoes to see hippos on a small river in southern CAR. It was all very rickety and probably ill-advised, but we took it in stride and had a great time.



He left Bangui for the UK in 2008; I wrote to him there, as I stayed in Bangui until early 2009: I wrote to him when he left and then complained that I wasn’t staying in touch.



Brad and I were both Peace Corps Volunteers – he in Mali, me in Burkina Faso – and though we never talked about it, I know it’s part of what brought us together. He seemed happy to travel the globe; he was never homesick that I saw. That said, he was very American in so many ways; a Colorado kid who loved the environment and explored the world, not caring of status or money or really what other people wanted from or thought of him. He cared about the environment, and he cared about his wife and his kids.



Or, as he put it around the time of his wedding to Eulalie: We'll need to get our kids together someday and watch them play with dangerous items and fire as we sit in our lawn chairs sipping cocktails. … About Eulalie, in the same email, he said, She is very cool. We make a great team.



I visited him before he went into hospice care. It was good to see him and also hard; he didn’t want to be sick, and was clearly proud of his wife and daughter and distraught at the idea of losing them. He did tell me – I’m glad I’m sick in France; at least the medical care is taken care of. Given my own experience of watching my parents and disabled sister navigate our health care system I agreed.



I don’t know if Brad was a believer, but I know that there is a greater peace and comfort ahead for good people who depart this world. I believe I will see him again, and that he lives on in our memories, with his family, and his children. He was a good man, and his memory will always be a blessing for all of us, in the days and months and years to come.

This is a song written by Brad on June 2, 2026 just 2 months before he passed and composed and sung by his great friend Gregory Flatt. This is a little piece of him that he left behind for all of us.

A good life / Une belle vie

ENGLISH

I got the news a couple of months ago.
Doc said, “Probably got less than a year to go.”
But I ain’t gonna waste time complaining,
Because I’ve had a good life.
I’ve done my best to help the Earth and those in need,
Invested my time seeking to do good deeds.
But that did not keep me from getting stuck in the weeds.
Whoa, no.
Made more mistakes than I care to count,
But I’ve always managed to get back up and out.
And I guess that’s a big part
Of what life’s all about.
Had many adventures,
I’ve taken some wrong turns.
Had plenty of good times,
But I’ve also been burned.
But all in all, I am so very grateful,
Because I’ve had a good life.
I’ve got a strong and beautiful wife.
She’s my best friend,
She’s the love of my life.
I’ve got two kids I completely adore.
My love for you all
Flows from my very core.
I was an atheist,
But now I’ve started to pray,
Just thankful to wake up
Each and every day.
Because, because
I have a good life.
I did the best I knew how
For my boy and little girl.
I’m proud of who they are.
I’m sure that they’ll go far
In this world.
I wish with all my might
I could have spared them from this fright.
I want them to know
That everything will be all right.
As long as the kids are healthy and strong,
I’ll keep on smiling,
Trying to live by the words of this song.
Because, because
I have a good life.
I won’t give up,
No, not until the end.
When it’s finally time
To let go,
When it is so,
I want you to know
My love for you
Will forever flow.
I’m sorry that I couldn’t stay longer,
But my love for you is complete,
And it’s still growing stronger.
If guardian angels are real,
Know I’ll always be near enough
That deep down you’ll feel.
Even though I can’t make a sound,
I want you to know
I will always be around.
So value your family,
Friends, laughter and health,
Not material things,
Status, titles or wealth.
You can find my strength
Among the trees,
And feel my smile
In a warm summer breeze,
My comfort in babbling brooks
And in the seas.
The twinkle in my eye
Is now part of the night sky,
And I will be
With you forever.
And I wish you
A long and beautiful life,
A long and beautiful life.

--------------------------------------------------------------
FRANCAIS

J’ai appris la nouvelle il y a quelques mois.
Le médecin m’a dit : « Il te reste probablement moins d’un an. »
Mais je ne vais pas perdre mon temps à me plaindre,
Car j’ai eu une belle vie.
J’ai fait de mon mieux pour aider la Terre et ceux qui en avaient besoin,
J’ai consacré mon temps à essayer de faire le bien.
Mais cela ne m’a pas empêché de parfois m’égarer.
Oh non.
J’ai fait plus d’erreurs que je ne saurais les compter,
Mais j’ai toujours réussi à me relever et à avancer.
Et je suppose que c’est en grande partie
Ce qu’est la vie.
J’ai vécu de nombreuses aventures,
J’ai parfois pris de mauvaises directions.
J’ai connu beaucoup de bons moments,
Mais j’ai aussi été blessé.
Malgré tout, je suis profondément reconnaissant,
Car j’ai eu une belle vie.
J’ai une femme forte et magnifique.
Elle est ma meilleure amie,
Elle est l’amour de ma vie.
J’ai deux enfants que j’adore de tout mon cœur.
Mon amour pour vous tous
Jaillit du plus profond de moi.
J’étais athée,
Mais maintenant, je me suis mis à prier,
Simplement reconnaissant de me réveiller
Chaque jour.
Parce que, parce que
J’ai une belle vie.
J’ai fait du mieux que je pouvais
Pour mon garçon et ma petite fille.
Je suis fier de ce qu’ils sont devenus.
Je suis certain qu’ils iront loin
Dans ce monde.
J’aurais voulu de toutes mes forces
Pouvoir leur épargner cette épreuve.
Je veux qu’ils sachent
Que tout ira bien.
Tant que les enfants seront en bonne santé et forts,
Je continuerai à sourire,
En essayant de vivre selon les paroles de cette chanson.
Parce que, parce que
J’ai une belle vie.
Je n’abandonnerai pas,
Non, pas avant la fin.
Et lorsqu’il sera enfin temps
De lâcher prise,
Lorsque le moment sera venu,
Je veux que vous sachiez
Que mon amour pour vous
Continuera de couler pour toujours.
Je suis désolé de ne pas avoir pu rester plus longtemps,
Mais mon amour pour vous est immense,
Et il continue encore de grandir.
Si les anges gardiens existent,
Sachez que je serai toujours assez près de vous
Pour qu’au fond de vous, vous puissiez sentir ma présence.
Même si je ne peux plus faire entendre ma voix,
Je veux que vous sachiez
Que je serai toujours là.
Alors chérissez votre famille,
Vos amis, les rires et la santé,
Et non les choses matérielles,
Le statut, les titres ou la richesse.
Vous pourrez retrouver ma force
Parmi les arbres,
Et sentir mon sourire
Dans la douceur d’une brise d’été,
Mon réconfort dans le murmure des ruisseaux
Et dans les océans.
L’éclat de mes yeux
Fait désormais partie du ciel étoilé,
Et je serai
Avec vous pour toujours.
Et je vous souhaite
Une longue et belle vie,
Une longue et belle vie.

Cher Brad,
Nous avons croisé ton chemin grace a la famille d'Eulalie, qui aujourd'hui est dans la peine et la tristesse. Nous avons discuté a quelques reprises de tes racines Américaines mais ta vie et tes valeurs étaient désormais Françaises. Hélas tu n'as pas eu le temps d'ancrer ton mayflower chez nous a cause d une saloperie de maladie ausi sournoise que fatale. Repose en paix mon Ami. ! A notre niveau nous veillerons sur Lalie et Gaïa mais j' en suis certain ton étoile veillera sur elles pour l'éternité.🙏

We lost this guy today. Brad Mulley and I met in the Peace Corps over 27 years ago. He could easily be mistaken for a frat bro at first take with his inappropriate jokes and devil may care confidence. But Brad did care. A lot. About the world, the earth and his people.
I started dating his close friend and he was dating my close friend so we spent a lot of time as a foursome. Our significant others were both a little serious at times, so Brad and I kept things light together. He egged me on when I was feeling a little crazy and helped me laugh at myself and the ridiculousness of life at times. He played a role in some life changing decisions for me.
We had hoped to have met up when I was in France last year, but we settled for a solid 2 hour phone call with so much gossip and giggles and Brad lamenting how boring he had become. When I found out this past winter he was sick, we focused our texting on more gossip and a little trash talk. It seemed to bring him joy and a little levity. He was also praising the strength of his wife and was reading as many philosophy books as he could. And encouraging me to have more sex. Brad kept it balanced.
I can think of a million photos I have of him, including one from my wedding, now tucked away in a box meant for my kids. But for now, this is all I have to contribute to what I'm sure will be a flood of popped collars, sexy smiles and fancy shades. It was hiding in my email from 5 years ago. He had run into someone at a conference and he wanted to send proof.
I will miss you lots, friend. I promise to keep it light, to keep you posted on all the good tea and to live a great big life as you did. I hope whatever is next for you is joy filled and easy, just like you.

Poème “La mort n’est rien”/ Poem “Death is nothing at all”,

La mort n’est rien.
Je suis simplement passé dans la pièce à côté.
Je suis moi. Tu es toi.
Ce que nous étions l’un pour l’autre, nous le sommes toujours.
Donne-moi le nom que tu m’as toujours donné.
Parle-moi comme tu l’as toujours fait.
N’emploie pas de ton différent.
Ne prends pas un air solennel ou triste.
Continue à rire de ces petites choses qui nous amusaient tant.
Prie, souris, pense à moi, prie pour moi.
Que mon nom soit prononcé à la maison comme il l’a toujours été, sans emphase d’aucune sorte, sans trace d’ombre.
La vie signifie tout ce qu’elle a toujours signifié.
Elle est ce qu’elle a toujours été.
Le fil n’est pas coupé.
Pourquoi serais-je hors de ta pensée parce que je suis hors de ta vue ?
Je t’attends, je ne suis pas loin, juste de l’autre côté du chemin.
Tu vois, tout va bien.

Henry Scott Holland, 1910

Brad was always a bright star in the Mulley family. His dad, Gilbert Mulley, was my favorite uncle, and Heather and Brad treasured cousins. Since Brad built a life abroad, I didn't get to know him as an adult. Being able to attend the funeral, meet Eulalie, Gaia, Luka and Nela, Eulalie's parents, and all of Brad's friends was an experience I will never forget. I learned more about Brad than ever before, from the stories shared in France as we celebrated his amazing life. Thank you, Eulalie, for loving Brad so deeply and for preparing a send off celebration that will live in my heart forever. Brad, I'll catch you on the flip side, Dude!

Papa je t'aime très fort pour toujours, je serai là pour toi pour toujours parce que je t'aime très fort et j'espère bien que tu seras un ange parce que je t'aime pour la vie entière.🥹Gaïa

Thank you Brad for inspiring everyone around you to be a bit more confident, more irreverent, to not take life too seriously yet to live it to the fullest. See you soon on the other side :)

Hi, my name is Kurt Wenndt. I‘ve been living in Germany for 37 years. I‘m
Brad‘s cousin. Brad‘s father Gil married my aunt Yvonne. The day they were
married back in 1983, I believe, I remember these two red-headed kids, Brad
and Heather, running around in their dress clothes, having a good time. He
must have been 10 or 11. The next time I saw him was probably in 1997,
when the Mulley family took a trip to Germany. Brad joined them while back
on vacation from the Congo. Their plan was to go to the Oktoberfest in
Munich. They had done a few days sight-seeing and were on their way to
Munich when they stopped by our house. I had a variety of beers waiting for
them, not knowing what they‘d like. Well, during their stay, I mentioned that I
was playing bass. Well, that got the attention of Brad. He wanted to play it. So
I let him. Boy, was he good at slapping. Much better than me, still! He said he
took lessons as a kid. It showed. It was nice to hear my bass sound that
good. And he made it look so easy. Quite a talent! After their time with us,
they were off to Munich. My aunt Yvonne would like me to share a few
memories with you. I‘ll start with that trip to Oktoberfest. She said they really
had a great time, enjoyed drinking the liter-sized beers and later they found a
tobacco shop that sold cuban cigars. Then, they went to a Brauhaus, drank
more beers and smoked their cuban cigars. She said they had so much fun!
Next memory, was at Gil and Yvonne’s house in the mountains of Colorado.
Brad would come to visit and since there wasn’t much to do in the Mountains,
they would play pool in the basement. To add to the fun and good times, Gil
would have plenty of the locally brewed beer, Fat Tire, on hand. The games
were pretty competitive, so Gil went to a different room and brought back this
little trophy and said they would play a best of 5 series and winner would
keep the trophy until the next time he comes back. It would be their traveling
trophy. I asked who won and she said Gil won most of the time. But they had
so much fun and that‘s all the matters. Next, Gil and Brad started doing
Father-Son trips. First, Brad came to Colorado and they took off to visit
various national parks in the western US, like Bryce Canyon National Park
and Zion National Park, both in Utah. The next time, Gil flew to South Africa
and met up with Brad. The two went diving off the coast. They even got into a
cage together and were lowered into the ocean and great white sharks would
come up to it. That must have been quite an experience! Most likely, all of you
know, that Brad‘s father, Gil, sadly passed away last October. and a couple of
weeks before Brad passed, Yvonne called Brad. She let it ring a long time
and was about to hang up when he answered. They talked awhile and then
she told him he should start thinking about their next Father-Son trip. And
they should go wherever it takes them. Brad, she loves you and you will be in
her heart forevermore. Until we meet again! Eulalie, Thank You for letting me
share this with everyone