UPDATED DEC 6 Two Home School moms, both members of St Peter Presbyterian Church, were killed in an auto accident caused by a powerful storm this past Wednesday night, December 2.

The accident happened when a massive tree fell and crashed on a rural highway in southwest Virginia near the town of Mendota, located about a half-hour’s drive north of Bristol, Va. Stories like this happen many times a day throughout the U.S., but seldom do they have such a deep impact on one church.

The two women were driving in a Ford F-350 multi-passenger van along State Route 622. The Highway Patrol report indicates that 39-year-old Theresa Bullen and 44-year-old Deaun Brockmyre died instantly in the freak accident where a huge and sudden downdraft totally uprooted a large tree which came down directly on the van. Bullen was driving northbound when the tree, at least 70 feet tall and two feet in diameter, fell directly across the front of their van. Brockmyre was in the passenger seat. No one else was in the vehicle, and no other vehicles were involved. The ladies were returning home to Mendota from a shopping trip.

Mrs. Bullen leaves behind a husband and nine children; Mrs. Brockmyre a husband and eight children. Both ladies were members of St. Peter Presbyterian Church, a Confederation of Reformed and Evangelical Churches (CREC) congregation in Mendota, one of a couple of related churches in the area. The Reverend R. C. Sproul, Jr., Director of the nearby HighlandStudyCenter, serves as one of the pastors of the churches.

On Thursday, pastors and members of the church were already coming together to help both families cope with their loss. “We are committed to helping these families in any possible way we can and I know both of these families have been a part of our church for a long time and they are confident that they can count on us,“ said Pastor Sproul.

The obitiuary for Mrs. Bullen, released Sunday morning, is shown below. The deceeased brother, David Dennis, who will share in officiating at the funeral service is a Minister in the Presbyterian Church in America. The obituary notice for Mrs. Brockmyre is below that. lease note that the Eric Dye shown as a brother to Mrs. Brockmyre is NOT the PCA minister by the same name.

Theresa Merrill Dennis Bullen ABINGDON, Va. Theresa Merrill Dennis Bullen, age 39, a resident of Mendota Road, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident. We mourn the loss of our beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend and take comfort and know that she is with our Lord Jesus Christ, face to face with the Resurrection and the Life Himself, who suffered and gave Himself for her, that she might be with Him. Theresa’s life was defined by devotion and untiring, selfless service to her Lord, her family, her friends, and by tender concern for others. All of our lives are forever richer and blessed for having been part of hers. Mrs. Bullen was born on Nov. 17, 1970, in Maryville, Tenn., a daughter of Merrill Flowers Smith and the late Roger Mitchell Dennis. She had resided in the Washington County, Va., area for the past five years and was a former resident of Atlanta. She was a member of Saint Peter Presbyterian Church. She was preceded in death by her father, Roger Dennis; and one brother, Michael “Mick” Dennis. Survivors include her husband, D. Benjamin Bullen; four sons, Joshua, Elijah, Samuel and Whitefield; five daughters, Abigail, Danielle, Lydia, Phoebe and Victoria; her mother, Merrill Smith; and step-father, Houston Smith; one brother, David Dennis and wife, Marla of Mississippi and their two sons, Jacob and Matthew; one sister, Annie Laurie Crosby and husband, Joe of Texas and her two daughters, Elise and Kiley; her sister-in-law, Kathleen Dennis of New Jersey and her two sons; and her church family. The funeral service for Theresa Bullen will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday morning, Dec. 8, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Florida Ave., Bristol Tennessee with Dr. R.C. Sproul Jr. and Rev. David Dennis officiating. Interment will follow in the Mendota Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Erik Rolf, Joshua Bullen, Don Kiser, Robert McIntyre, Jon Larson and D.J. Hammond. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday evening at Frost Funeral Home. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made in memory of Theresa Merrill Dennis Bullen to Saint Peter Presbyterian Church, 5044 Walker Mountain Road, Bristol, VA 24202. Online condolences may be submitted at www.frostfuneralhome.com Frost Funeral Home, 250 E. Main St., Abingdon, Va., is serving the family.

Deaun Ruth Dye Brockmyre: We mourn the loss of our treasured daughter, wife, mother and friend but give thanks in the assurance that our beloved, Deaun is rejoicing with her Lord and Savior. Deaun Ruth Dye Brockmyre, age 44, went to Heaven on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, following an automobile accident. Deaun was loved by many for her sweet gentle spirit and generous heart. She was born in Richmond, Va., and had worked as a nurse and case manager at BristolRegionalMedicalCenter before devoting her time to raising and home schooling her children. She was a member of St. Peter Presbyterian Church and a shining example of faith and devotion. She is survived by her husband, Dr. Andrew Brockmyre, MD; five daughters, Heather Bailey and husband Ryan of Lexington, Va., Isabel, Bliss, Maeve and Ellianna Brockmyre; three sons, Calvin, Christopher and Benjamin Brockmyre; her parents, Dr. Daniel and Phyllis Compton Dye of Bristol Tennessee; one brother, Eric Daniel Dye and wife Mandy Mink Dye of Knoxville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m.Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at FirstBaptistChurch, BristolVirginia, with R.C. Sproul Jr., Laurence Windham, Wayne Hays and Mark Dewey officiating. The committal service and interment will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in RussellMemorialCemetery in Lebanon, Va. The family will receive friends from 6 8 p.m. Saturday at Akard Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC28607 E-mail condolences may be sent to the family at [email protected] Akard Funeral Home, 1912 W. State St., Bristol, TN (423) 989-4800, is serving the family of Mrs. Brockmyre.