Michael Shannon MacNaughton

Mike was born in Houston, Texas on April 24, 1954 to James H. MacNaughton and Clare Kanach MacNaughton.

He was first a man of God, husband, and father. Good to all he met. He loved art, reading, learning and entered into causes with a passionate force to change. He skipped school to protest the Vietnam War. His picture landing on the front page of the Houston Chronicle and being interviewed by the nightly news, all to his parents’ surprise.

He graduated with a degree in film from the University of Texas in Austin and took graduate classes at the University of Massachusetts. From there he move to Pacific Heights, CA and then back to Houston. He worked on building and selling 30 homes in the Houston area. He received his pilot’s license, bought airplanes, drove corvettes, and wore gold chains in the 80s.

On May 12, 1990 he married Jane Grinnan and settled down. Their daughter Mollye was born in 1992 and Mike took up the challenge of stay at home dad before it became a more normal occurrence. He enjoyed making her baby food from scratch and at one point turned her orange with too many carrots and sweet potatoes. Their son Matthew was born in 1997 and, not learning from his previous experience, turned him orange as well! By the time Matt was born, Mike had started TexasWebDevelopers.com, a business he would work on for the next 20 years.

Mike was a great cook! He loved researching recipes and making spectacular dinners for all manner of events, from the crab bisque that he cooked for Jane while dating to eggs benedict on Mother’s Day. His love of food and cooking would later inspire Mollye’s career as a food scientist.

He was a lover of camping and exploring the outdoors. He and Jane spent their honeymoon camping throughout New Mexico. They took their children on several camping trips, Mollye going on her first at just 12 weeks old. Matt also grew up toddling to and from many a camp fire.

Mike’s passion for justice and protest did not end with the Vietnam War. He tackled the DISD budget and school board tirelessly! His passion for budget reform was felt in every aspect of his life from founding DFPE (Dallas Friends of Public Education) to support and vetting of school board nominees. He was also a founding member of the board that brought the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul to Dallas.

He dreamed of retiring in a camper, travelling and seeing more of the United States. He was a software developer and a dreamer, instilling a love of learning in his children. Mike looked forward to walking Mollye down the aisle in her wedding and dreamed of telling stories to his grandkids.

His childlike enthusiasm for the little joys of life will be missed greatly by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife Jane, two children, Mollye and Matthew.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

May he rest in Peace!

A rosary will be held on Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 11:30 AM at Christ the King Catholic Church, located at 8017 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas, 75225.

A Memorial Mass will follow, Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 12:00 Noon at Christ the King Catholic Church.

Ted Dickey West Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas has charge of arrangements.