Obituary & Celebration of Life Memorial
Michael Williams, 65, passed away on June 24, 2024.
Mike was born in Flint Michigan. He graduated from Swartz Creek High School and Eastern Michigan University. He played football for Eastern, number 62, and graduated in 1981. He felt such a sense of accomplishment and pride in playing football. He formed friendships there that still remain today.
In 1991 he married his wife Kelly. They had many wonderful times together. A few of those were trips that included riding their motorcycles. They continued to live in Michigan for many years. Their desire to experience living in a new place brought them to New Mexico and Arizona with the big open skies. Mike worked most of his career in the automotive industry. He enjoyed playing his guitar, watching movies, working on his Jeep Wrangler, and going for trail rides in it.
Mike had gentle ways and a kind heart. He was truly a gentle giant. I will miss him and our good times of life together terribly.
Mike is survived by his loving Kelly, brother Matt, other family members Kim, Cliff, Rick, Adrienne, nieces & nephews, and close friends. Preceded in death by his parents.
Celebration of Life Letter (Love, Kelly)
We gather here to honor Mike. He was a kind-hearted man that would help you out whenever he could. He was a gentle and sensitive person. A friendly man that took the time to listen to others. He had a wonderful smile and sense of humor. He had such a likeable personality.
Mike loved his time playing football at Eastern Michigan University. He felt a great accomplishment and formed friendships that remained throughout his life. He spent most of his career in the automobile industry, where he successfully created and managed a mass properties team for General Motors. This was another one of his accomplishments. He was asked to go to Germany for a special project and spent two weeks working there and touring the area.
He loved to play guitar, having taught himself. He enjoyed watching movies, and working on his Jeep Wrangler.
Mike and I traveled to many destinations in the US over the years, including the Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion National Parks, Yosemite, South Dakota, Moab Utah, Maine, Washington State, South Carolina, Las Vegas, Montana, Florida, as well as all around Michigan. One of these adventures included riding our motorcycles on the Blue Ridge Parkway through Virginia and North Carolina.
Mike had some health issues at times in his life, but throughout those times he was not a complainer and had such a pleasant demeanor. He had difficulty overcoming a few of those health battles.
Losing Mike has left a gaping hole in my heart. There were so many times you made me laugh. You will always be here with me. I will one day, through my sadness, be able to cherish the wonderful times we had together in life.
Peaceful and calm days for you until we are together again. I miss you and I love you.
Thank you for being here today to honor Mike, a wonderful human being.
Gallery
Memory wall
My name is Allen Lux and I was a member of Eastern Michigans Football team while attending EMU with Mike. He was a wonderful team mate and mentor for me. As a freshman I remember Mike and I talking a lot about the does and Don'ts and team rules. He was funny, kind and always talked up Swartz Creek and Flint MI. Like many of my former EMU classmates and teammates We lost touch over the years. I am sorry for the families loss and hope Mike is in heaven looking down on us and saving a place on the branch for the rest of us. RIP Mike 🙏🏻
Kelly Williams posted on 7/7/24
My Beloved Mike, I love you and miss you. You are a good-hearted person. Be at peace. Save my place by you, when it's my time to come be restored as well. All my love, Kelly
Mike Dailey posted on 7/6/24
Mike was a teammate at EMU, back in our Huron days. Was always a great inspiration, teammate and competitor. He and buddy Brad Coldiron played guitars for my rookie skit in 1980. Still remember like yesterday. So sorry to hear of his passing. May the good Lord bless him and his family. Mike Dailey. EMU Football Class of '83
Michael McCarthy posted on 7/3/24
I first met Mike at General Motors where we were both managers at the GM Technology Center in Warren Michigan. He was a great manager and everyone absolutely loved him. As I got to know Mike better I understood why he was so well liked and respected by everyone he met. Great personality and kind to all. Mike and Kelly were part of the wedding of our dear friend Lisa Miller out in Seattle and many great memories of that. Mike is gone way too soon but will definitely never be forgotten. So sorry to lose my friend
Kelly Bone posted on 7/2/24
I was a friend of Mikes in college. He was always polite and a gentlan and made sure I was protected and got home from the bar that we worked at (Theo’s). When I think of EMU I think of him fondly. Sending prayers to his family. He was a big man with an even bigger heart. God bless!
Mike Crowell posted on 7/2/24
Kelly what a heart felt memory of our “ Huron” and your Gentle Giant. I nicknamed Mike as “ Wus” his football freshman year at Eastern Michigan University. I nicknamed him that phrase to motivate him and not to humiliate him. We had more love than hate in the years to follow as “ Wus”. We were roommates for a year and Mike’s mechanical knowledge helped me with a car repair. He was my left offensive tackle playing football. We faced many situations in our team challenges and I always encouraged him to play his best and he always came through. He will always be playing with his teammates in our yearly golf outings with the other players who left us way too soon. He will never be forgotten in my heart. Mike
Brenda R Weathers posted on 7/2/24
Mike is now happy and well but will be greatly missed by those still here who loved him deeply.
Jeff Gould posted on 7/2/24
I knew Mike fairly well and loved him. He showed me a side of myself but we worked on together, and helped me grow, learn and move forward with fellowship and service . My hearts and prayers to Kelly and family.
Meg Francis posted on 7/2/24
Kelly and family. So sorry for your loss. You are my thoughts and prayers. Meg
Andrea C Blach posted on 7/2/24
Be at peace now Mike...may your soul be at rest You will be remembered fondly by those who knew you.
Fred & Wendy Wright posted on 7/2/24
Mike was a kind man and a friendly neighbor who always had something funny to say while working on his jeep. We miss him.
Paul Sherzer posted on 7/2/24
Mike was my teammate and friend for close to 50 years. We have a get together every summer to play golf talk about the good times we had and tell a few lies about our football skills. I can’t think of a single time when we would get together that Mike didn’t have this huge smile on his face. Mike was a true friend and even though I will miss him I will smile every time I think of him. You couldn’t have a better friend than Mike
Danielle Hall posted on 7/2/24
Oh uncle Mike. I will miss your laugh most of all. A favorite memory of mine was when you met Charlee at nine months old when we came to visit. She looked even smaller than her peanut self in your arms. She had never been up that high before and her eyes expressed her concern and excitement all at the same time. There are never good byes in life, only see you laters, so until next time, we love you Uncle Mike. Save us a good seat!
Erica Stearns posted on 7/2/24
I knew Mike for a relatively short time, but I always saw his warm and endearing personality He truly was a great guy, a trusted friend and a happy soul I will not forget his kindness, his sense of humor and his beautiful smile Rest my friend-you are remembered
Zack Byers
We have had so many good times together and I will always cherish them. My heart breaks that we couldn't have had many more of them. You made me laugh so often. And your heart was kind.
I pray for your peace, renewed wholeness, and calm days. Until we are together again, please remember how much I love you.
Favorites
In one of the pictures in the Gallery, his Jeep is on its side. He was doing the Box Canyon here (considered a difficult trail). I was not there for this particular ride, his former boss took the picture.
Jeeping
We loved going to the shooting range
(frequently when we lived in Las Cruces NM, since the open range was only a few miles from our home)
He knew how to ice skate pretty well (in his younger days)
Too many to tell them all here