Michael Keith Leary, aged 63, has gone to the big fishing pond in the sky on November 21, 2018. He is casting a line with his father and father-in-law in heaven.
He was sick for a long time and fought hard to stay alive. So many times the doctors said he would not last through the night and he fooled them every time. He had a strong desire to live and wanted to grow old with his family.
He loved his extended family, 70’s rock music, bow hunting and fishing. He was a fireworks aficionado and took every opportunity to put on a show for the family. He enjoyed going to the casinos and playing bingo. But fishing was his first love besides his wife of 36 years.
He was born in California and came to Texas at the age of 18. The oldest of five children, he helped raise his for brothers and sisters. He enjoyed traveling. He loved his morning donut and was very close to his dialysis family.
He liked to play cards and relished taking his in-law’s money playing bouray. Recently he mastered Candy Crush and enjoyed hours of play. He loved growing roses and produced some real beauties.
He enjoyed woodworking and was proud of several pieces he made. He built a large party barn which hosted lots of parties and lots of his stuff. He spent hours on his riding lawnmower cutting his East Texas acreage.
He loved his dog and cat who were his constant companions. He had a great sense of humor and enjoyed teasing his loved ones, always quick with a comeback.
He owned AVS Mufflers in Livingston in the eighties and nineties and worked for Texas Department of Criminal Justice Institutional Division.
He is survived by his wife, Gale, his son, Kenneth Barfield and Kevin Allen, his four siblings and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at 10 AM at Pace Stancil Chapel in Cleveland, Texas.