Michael Thomas Mathis

Michael lived a crazy life. He never had much respect for rules or laws, and it got him into trouble from time to time. But something that never changed, was being available to help anyone in need. Throughout his life. he would see people needing help, and he would be there for them.

Now while he was always there for people with an open wallet, ready to help, for himself he was generally cheap. He got more satisfaction over finding something broken and making it work, than he giving him the basic know how to fix pretty much any mechanical thing. Whether this talent came from his father, an electrician by trade, or some sort of innate understanding of how the world worked, we may never know. We know he didn't make use of this talent, other than personal satisfaction, as he worked the vast majority of his life, 40 some years, at the same job.

His job was an extended family to him. He had complaints, funny stories, and fond memories, of the people he worked with over the past four decades. He had pride in their accomplishments, frustration when people didn't live up to their potential, and a level of comfort few people can find in their place of work. What else can this be described as except family? He was getting older, but yet he never seemed to have thought of ever not working there, so in this way we can be thankful, as to someone like this to retire would have been like asking someone to give up their family, it can't be done.