One of Terry Mullan’s three sons can be found in his king-size bed each night.

“They take turns,” Mullan said. “It’s comforting for me as well as for them.”

It’s been a time of grief and healing for Terry and his boys Matthew, eight, Michael, six, and Christopher, four, since their mom Dana passed away suddenly last October.

“It’s been hard. I realized early on I am not the typical widower,” Terry said. “I’m not 70 years old in a house by myself. I have three kids I need to take care of and I get up every day to do that.”

Matthew plays little league baseball, and both he and his brother Michael play chess every Monday at school. Christopher goes to Kaleidoscope three days a week.

“To watch these kids interact with each other and their friends, I am absolutely amazed how three children raised in the same environment are so different,” Terry said. “Matthew is a jock, Michael is sensitive, and Christopher is just happy go lucky.”

When asked what their favorite thing to do with their dad is, all three boys said, “Play catch.”

The two oldest boys see a counselor provided through Orcas Island Community Church, and Terry just completed a six-week grief recovery course with Janice Wiemeyer.

“It was very therapeutic and good for my mind and soul,” he said. “I’m an avid reader – I read the newspaper every day and several books a week – so I’ve read a lot about losing a spouse, and it’s helped. I’m a Christian and I believe she’s in a good place.”

Terry and his sons visit Dana’s grave every week and bring her fresh flowers. They also go to Orcas Community Church each Sunday where Terry volunteers with the church’s child care center, which Dana managed. The boys also participate in vacation bible school.

“We’re definitely part of the family over there,” Terry said.

The Mullans moved to the island in 1999, when Terry was hired to manage Orcas Athletics after running health clubs for 20 years. After a successful stint at the club, he is now a fitness consultant. Dana first worked at Washington Federal Savings, and then San Juan Insurance. She and Terry were together for 17 years.

“She was literally the sweetest woman I had ever met,” he said.

After Dana died, Terry’s sister asked if he wanted to move back to his hometown. He told her, “No way. You have no idea what it’s like where I live.”

And the community has lived up to his words.

Islanders paid his OPALCO bill for six months after his wife’s death. The Orcas Christian School offered all of his boys a full scholarship to attend high school. And Terry has countless new friends through the network of single parents on the island.

After eight months of pain, Terry feels like his life is beginning to bloom again.

He just closed on a new house in Eastsound, which he can’t wait to move into. His sister is coming up to help with the transition in a few weeks.

“We have a motto: we are a family and we get through it with teamwork,” Terry said. “I’m a very loving father. The boys know they’re loved. Dana and I were always hugging each other and hugging them. I treat them like people. I’ve never treated them like kids. I enjoy watching them make decisions and learn as they go.”