Michael came into the world on December 15, 1949. He loved his grandfather and grandmother's farm and fostered by his upbringing from two parents who also had grown up "on the farm." He developed a life long love affair with all things agricultural/country. Attending schools in Garland his love of the farming lifestyle flourished when he joined the Future Farmers of America at South Garland High School. After an inauspicious beginning showing hogs the corner turned when he started raising Guernsey cows and the string of Grand Champions that followed at all the prestigious cattle shows in the state. Likely setting records that have never been equaled. After high school Michael briefly attended college but anxious to start his working career he worked for various major companies before settling in with GTE (General Telephone) where he advanced rapidly. It was during this time that his passion for all things western surfaced again as he took up the sport of calf-roping and the sport and his love of horses became a life-long passion.After a painful divorce Michael left GTE and made a career change going into the Heating and Air Conditioning industry and he eventually moved to rural Hunt County where he finally acquired his own piece of country real estate. He always stayed in touch with his family in Garland and always found time to reunite with his father and brother over the family tradition of deer hunting. Eventually these hunts also included his son and some of his nephews. He maintained many longstanding friendships in the Garland community and after a tragic house fire consumed his home in the country he moved to Garland to live with his mother who was widowed after Mike's father had passed. He was a great comfort to his mother who loved him dearly.While always planning to eventually move back to his land in Hunt County his health problems surfaced forcing him to stay close to his doctors and family. He spent the last three or more years of his life battling severe health issues. Outliving one doctor's estimate at how much longer he would "make it" by a year and a half. No doubt due to his legendary stubbornness and the loving care of a woman he just last week described to a nurse as "The best mother there ever was." Perfect? No. Michael wasn't perfect by any means, sometimes contrary, "he would argue with a stump" as our father put it and sometimes ornery, but always loved and always loved his family and friends and his God. It is a comfort to his family to know that he is no longer in pain and is re-united with his loved ones in the arms of a loving God.

Michael is survived by his mother Helen, his brother Kevin, his daughter Angela and her husband Jack, his son John and his wife Janet. his Aunt Jean, oneniece and three nephews.