I went to High School with Mike & just remember him as a big guy with a Big Heart.  He will truly be missed. May the angels keep him safe .

So sad to hear of Mike’s passing.  Will always remember the times we spent playing guitar s together with Dennis Coble.  We called ourselves “The fifty Four Dollar Band”.  A name Mike came up with.  Condolences to Gaye,David and the entire family.

Mike and I first started hanging out when I was a sophmore at AHS. Over the next four years we spent a lot of time together, including working together for three summer.  And when my wife, Karen Thomas, and I decided to get married, Mike was my Best Man. While our lives went different directions after that, I still have fond memories of the things we experienced together. I can best describe him as a gentle soul. He could be a wrecking ball on the football field, but a good natured dude otherwise. Based on the comments posted here, he was that way later in life too.

I am so sorry to hear this and will be praying for his family. Mike was one of my brothers best friends in high school and a special part of our family in high school. I won’t reveal the silly thing I did in high school but he came with my dad to get get me out of jail. 😊  He was such a great guy and I am heartbroken to hear about his passing. Thinking of him brings back so many sweet memories.  RIP Mike!😘

My husband and I had the privilege of working with Mike at the USPS. He was always happy and laughing about something. We had so much fun when he was around. We bowled on a postal league and had team names, ours was the "bowling bobs". From then on he called me Vicki Bob and my husband Beaver Bob at work or where ever we were. My  husband gave him the nickname Bob too. One day we were in line waiting to clock in at work and a new girl kept saying Bob, Bob, and no one answered. She finally tapped Mike on the arm and said Bob, which he said I am not Bob. She said well Beaver calls you Bob and we all laughed. One day after I retired I was walking up Woodland Park Blvd and a car pulled over and a man asked me about a street. I said I had not heard of the street and he said why not or something similar so I looked in closer thinking how rude and it was Mike, laughing. We both laughed and talked, catching up that day. He was always and still the fun guy. I send my condolences to his family as he will surely be missed. He was certainly the guy everyone loved to be around.  RIP Mike.  Vicki Oxner

I remember so many things about “Pearl.” One memory explains his character. In ninth grade football we ran a play right off his hip. I scored a seven yard touchdown but Mike “Pearl”  held the guy he was blocking. They called back the touchdown and backed us up 10 yards.
When we came back to the huddle, he told Guy to run the same play over again. Guy said, “O.K.”
I knew what was coming and almost felt sorry for the guy he was blocking. When he lined up he told the guy he was blocking where the play was coming and then proceeded to blast the guy into oblivion. This time I scored from 17 yards out.
“Pearl” was a force of nature and a true gentleman at the same time. There just weren’t many like him ever.

I had the privilege of being a teammate of Mike’s through junior high and high school. In most games, he was the best player on the field. He was a great friend and a great person. Whatever he would do, he would give it all he had. Never seen him slack. Wherever Harper was,  a crowd soon gathered. I pretty much lost contact with him after high school but always enjoyed the time when we did see each other. Mike was a good man.  He was well respected and even loved by all who grew up with him. He will be missed!

I an a cousin, growing up we played a lot of ball. We had good times at family reunions. We did not live far from each other growing up so we  saw each other’s families a lot. We have not been close the last number of years but i thought of him and his family often. I saw him at Kroger last year and we visited a little and i ask him if he would think about coming to family reunion.

Mike's passing hurts. He was always a good man, a good sport and an accomplished athlete. I met him in first grade at a birthday party. I tried to jump on his back and he flipped me over on my back.

He was an honorable man who stuck with his principles and fair treatment of all his schoolmates and especially teammates. He always performed to his fullest extent, in whatever capacity he found himself. He also performed with elegance,humility, grace, and mindfulness. An incredible fullback!

His first concern was always for his family... for his parents and brothers, and then for his wife and children. He always asked himself: had he honored his family and had he looked to their welfare? 

Godspeed Mike. Hope to see you again on the other side.

We will miss you Mike! He was one of the BEST supervisors we ever had at the Post Office. Chris and Michael

Rest easy old friend. You will be missed by many.

To Mike's family...I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I met Mike in the 7th grade and his presence in our class, all the way through graduating from AHS, was always an important part of our close knit family of students. Many of us had siblings in his brothers classes...so we really did feel like we were all connected.  With plans for a class reunion in September he was one person I really hoped I might get to see.
He was a special guy...you will be in my prayers.

Lots of great memories: the years of watching the girls soccer practices and games, the events at Levitt and the great times on Tuesday nights at The White Elephant Saloon watching/listening to Mike play and sing some Johnny Cash.  One of our fondest memories was at the White Elephant when Mike, Dara and Jackson got up on stage together, man they were amazing!  Mike came of the stage with the biggest grin-you could tell how proud he was.

OBITUARY

Mike Harper

10 May, 1952 – 10 July, 2025

Moore Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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