Michael Ray McJilton

It is with great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of Michael Ray McJilton, affectionately known as “Mr. Mike,” on September 29, 2024, at age 82. In his last weeks under hospice care, Mr. Mike was visited by a steady stream of fellow church members, neighbors, friends, and family in his Oak Forest home of 51 years. Mr. Mike loved and was loved in return.

Mike was born on December 9, 1941, in Kilgore, Texas, to Brownie Ray McJilton and Virginia Rae (Warren) McJilton. He grew up in Gladewater, Texas, enjoying activities such as biking, fishing, and playing in the East Texas woods. One of Mike’s happiest teenaged memories was working together with his dad to build a unique and beautiful car. Mike’s first day rolling up to Gladewater High School in this classy, custom car was a proud and happy moment.

After high school graduation in 1960, Mike attended Kilgore Junior College. In 1963, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served at Fort Ritchie, Maryland, until his honorable discharge in 1966. Back in Texas, Mike enrolled at Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogdoches to complete his B.A. in Journalism.

Stephen F. Austin is where he met Susan Marie Sitchler from Abilene, Texas. They married on September 2, 1967, confident they could simultaneously work, go to class, and learn the ropes of marriage. They were wrong, but they persevered not only then, but also through the next 57 years, learning that marriage requires grace, forgiveness, and many long hand-in-hand walks.

When their son John Michael was born, Mike embraced father/son activities. They regularly played catch with a frisbee, ran and biked together, and attended many Astros games. Mike ran a rocket club for John and his classmates and assisted with leadership in scouting and soccer. Even as John grew to adulthood, they shared books and made time for fun together. They included John’s son Kevin on a 2017 road trip to see the solar eclipse in Wyoming, a great bonding time for three generations of McJilton men. In Mike’s last hours, it was John who held his daddy’s hand.

In all his jobs, Mike excelled at customer service. Answering phones for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Mike calmed anxious callers with his patience, kindness, and efforts to help them. More than one caller told Mike, “I want you to come to my house so I can serve you lunch.” The Houston Chapter of the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants recognized Mike in 1999 with a certificate of excellence in recognition for his “Exceptional Performance and Innovative Contributions.” Eventually, the IT department at the IRS recruited Mike, saying, “We can teach technology skills. We can’t teach the kind of customer service you offer.”

Mike’s heart was in the outdoors. He ran, biked, flew sport kites, and played disc golf. He loved and taught rock climbing, volunteered at boys’ camps, and hiked off into the wilderness whenever he could. As Grandad, he played with his grandkids in the shallow Hill Country rivers, the sandy Texas beaches, and the beautiful Colorado mountains. Much of the time he had a camera around his neck capturing the people and places he loved.

Mike loved the many pets that shared his home over the years but none more that his border collie mix, Lilly. Mike and Lilly walked their Oak Forest streets so frequently, greeting and chatting with neighbors, that the two gentle and kind souls were renowned as “fixtures of the neighborhood.”

Mike was a faithful follower of Christ from a young age to the end of his life. He always recalled with wonder the beginning of his faith: “One day while mowing the yard, I just started talking to God.” In his youth, Mike regularly attended Gladewater Christian Church with his whole family and actively participated in church activities. Mike and Susan were youth leaders in multiple churches and found many ways to lead and serve people of the church throughout their lives. Mike truly sought to be a peacemaker through kindness and service. He pursued God’s heart through his devotions to friendships, family, and charitable causes as much as through daily Bible study and long obedience.

Mike is survived by his wife, Susan Marie McJilton, his brother Gayland McJilton and wife Terry, his brother Tim McJilton and wife Michelle, his sister Patti Batis and husband Jerry, his son John Michael McJilton and wife Alexis Lee McJilton, his grandchildren Kevin Michael McJilton and Madeline Rae McJilton, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mike worked for and contributed to many charities over the years. Contributions in memory of Mr. Mike can be made to the Houston SPCA or the Star of Hope Mission. Flowers may be sent to the Heights Funeral Home who will coordinate the memorial service at 2:00 pm on October 12th at Oak Forest Anglican Church.