Michael Lanier Best

Mike was born December 19, 1951 in Salt Lake City, Utah to Vernon Lanier Best and Fleurette Nellie Duke. He grew up in the Salt Lake Valley and the Granger and Magna areas. He graduated from East High School in 1971. He then studied at the University of Utah where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in electrical engineering in 1978. Michael married Sally Denise Redmond July 7, 1979 in Magna, Utah. They were happily married for 34 years.

Mike began his career working at Texas Instruments Incorporated in Dallas, Texas where he also enjoyed being closer to his father’s side of the family in Gladewater. In 1979, he accepted a job with Utah Power & Light Company. In 1981, he and his family moved to Tucson, Arizona where Mike was employed by Hughes Aircraft Company. He held the position of Lead Project Engineer for the front end of the AMRAAM Missile for three years, and worked at Hughes Aircraft a total of 11 years. In 1992, Mike was laid off and moved to Socorro, New Mexico where he worked for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (The Very Large Array) until 1996. In 1996, he accepted a position and was reinstated at Raytheon (formerly Hughes Aircraft) and worked there until retiring in 2010. He spent considerable time in Malaysia working on the installation of a satellite ground station. He also traveled to Japan and Singapore. Also in 2010, Mike worked for L-3 Communication Systems in Salt Lake City. He received several awards during his extensive career and many commented that Mike had a remarkable mind.

Mike was a proud Christian and spent many hours discussing his Christian faith with others. He thoroughly enjoyed the ministry of apologetics and was well read on many religions. He loved reading and studying the Word of God. Mike enjoyed hiking and the outdoors. He, his wife and children spent many weekends in Estes Park and loved to hike the Bear Lake area. They also enjoyed hiking to the Devil’s Head Look-out Tower which they tried to do at least once a year. During Mike’s years in Tucson, he enjoyed playing elaborate practical jokes with his good friend, Jim. They were notorious throughout Hughes Aircraft. Mike held an Extra Class Ham Radio License, call sign NE7H. He was passionate about politics and enjoyed informing the uninformed. He cherished the time spent with family and friends, including many summer days visiting family in Magna, Utah and visits with his good friend, Dave. There was nothing more important to Mike than family, other than the saving grace found only in Jesus Christ. Mike will be dearly missed by all those who loved him, along with the family Lhasa Apso, Sophie.

Mike is survived by his wife, Sally; children, Natalie, Jaclyn, David (Tamara); granddaughter, Reagan; sister, Lanette; and many loving family and friends. Mike was preceded in death by his parents.

A viewing will be held at Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S. Colorado Boulevard, Centennial, Colorado, 80121 on October 28, 2013 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held at Calvary Chapel Aurora, 18900 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, Colorado, 80013 on October 29, 2013 at 12:00 noon. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Chapel Hill Cemetery. A luncheon will be held for close family and friends following the services.