Mark Wray Bullis

Mark Wray Bullis, age 54, passed away at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, CA on January 5, 2011 after a brief illness from diverticulitis complications. Born October 23, 1956, in Seattle, Washington, to Gaylord and Patricia Bullis, he lived on Mercer Island, Washington with his wife, mother and son. Survivors include his beloved wife, Joyce, his mother Patricia Bullis, sons Michael Sterling of Vashon Island and Anthony Bullis living at home, stepdaughter Shawna Canas of Los Angeles and his sister, Ann Bullis of Las Vegas, NV. He was preceded in death by his father in 1989. Mark was co-owner of Bullis Custom Services and Art’s Landscape on Mercer Island. He was a gifted, well known, loved and respected jazz musician. He was known as a great bassist and a great guitarist as well. He had many students that will no doubt follow in his footsteps and he loved teaching as well as performing. Mark was totally in his element in front of his audiences. His music career started at the age of 9 when his grandmother bought him his first guitar. His mother had a love of music and took Mark to see many of his major influences along the way. Mark studied classical bass with Seattle Symphony bassists Ron Simon and Nancy Griffin, Gary Peacock, Dave Holland, and Stafford James. He continued studying jazz guitar studying with Dave Peterson, Jim Nichols, Dave Hearle, Joe Henderson, Julien Priester and Mark Levine. He had worked with the Seattle Philharmonic and the Bellevue Philharmonic along with all the great musicians he so loved and respected in the Pacific Northwest. Mark had the privilege of working professionally with Steve Allen, Diane Shure, Barbara McNair, Johnny Barnes of the Platters, Edmonia Jarrett, and Hadley Caliman. Mark was a dedicated and loving family man who enjoyed the many little pleasures of life including gold panning, huckleberry picking and travel. He had a sense of adventure and enjoyed many outings with his family. According to Mark there were only three seasons, summer, spring, and football; and he was an avid Seahawks fan. Mark had quite a subtle sense of humor, (his wife always asked him to “stick to bass”), he was unassuming, loyal and felt so privileged to play with so many of Seattle’s finest musicians. He was a wonderful husband and family man, who love the Lord with all of his heart and attended services at New Hope Seattle. Mark had no idea he was going to have such a short gig here on earth, but there is no doubt he is hooking up with all the greats he so admired and is now in a perfect space. Mark touched so many and he will be so missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Love is everything. Love lives on forever in each memory and thought. Love never fades away, for in our hearts, one loved ones are with us forever. Burial was at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue, WA. Memorial contributions are welcome and can be mailed to Mark’s wife Joyce Bullis, P.O. Box 295 Mercer Island, WA 98040, who will use it to support the Seattle live jazz community.

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