Stories and Tributes: Michael Weadock

May 8, 1943 - March 26, 2008

Mike proudly served his country in the Army’s “Proud Americans” 6th Howitzer Battalion, 32nd Field Artillery Unit.  While stationed at Ft. Lewis, Washington, he served as an honor guard. He was deployed to Vietnam in 1967 and returned in 1968 always speaking with pride about his service in the military.

We met while both working for the same company and began dating within a short period of time.  He was divorced and was raising his 7 year old son, Chris.  I knew Mike was the one for me within about 3 months, and I adored Chris.  It took Chris and me a year and a half to convince him that we should get married.

Mike was one of the funniest people you would ever want to meet.  He had a special talent for making people laugh and had such a dry, hilarious sense of humor. He could tell some of the best stories that would have you in stitches and he loved to play practical jokes.  Everyone who knew him remembers him for the great stories he could tell.     He was an avid hunter; ducks, dove, pheasant, quail, geese, turkey, and deer.  

Most anytime his truck left the garage, his yellow lab, “Chass” went with him, she was his baby. 

He loved the outdoors and the water.  He enjoyed fishing and skeet shooting and was quite a marksman.  His favorite movie was Hatari starring John Wayne and his dream was go on an African Safari.

Some of our first dates were to the skeet range to teach me how to shoot.  He also taught me how to fish and hunt and we spent many hours together sitting in a deer stand waiting on that “big buck”.

Not only was he my husband; he was my soul mate, the love of my life and my best friend. He was charming, very loving, tender and caring and he made me laugh.  Oh, what a personality he had and what great times we had together.

Mike thought the world of Chris; he couldn’t have loved him more.  He was so very proud of the man and father he had become.  We were there for the births of our two grandchildren Mason and Mackenzie.  “Pepaw”, as they called him, loved to play with them and hold them in his lap.  They were so very special to him and he loved them dearly.   

This was the man who wore bunny ears on Easter, sat in the floor and played ball and had water gun fights wiith them in their kiddy pool.

He had quite a career in banking and over the last 20 years or so, worked as an Analyst for an Information Technology company.  He took early retirement when his employer lost a 20 year contract and we sold our home in Dripping Springs, Texas and moved to Hot Springs, Arkansas to retire in April, 2005.  I continued working from home to provide us with benefits until we both reached 65.

Mike was the general contractor and built the dream home we had designed on our beautiful mountain top outside Hot Springs.  He did a wonderful job; it was everything we expected and more.  We moved into our new home the end of May, 2006. 

We had such great plans to travel, cruise the lake on our party barge, spend more time with our son and his family and just have fun.  We were to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary on April 28, 2008, my retirement party on April 30th and his 65th birthday on May the 8th.

On March 24, 2008, everything changed.  Mike had a hemorrhagic stroke and was declared brain dead within a very short period of time.  Because he and I had registered to be donors when we got our Arkansas Driver’s License, I was contacted by Arora about donation shortly afterwards.  I gladly consented knowing that it was his wish to donate and that his passing would bring others new hope and a chance to live longer lives.  He didn’t die in vain. A part of him lives on through them.  I hope someday to have the opportunity to meet his recipients.

Mike will forever be my hero. 

Written with love,

Linda