Michael Stuart Kidd

Michael Stuart Kidd was born in Mullens, West Virginia on October 11, 1941 to Raymond and Evelyn (Robertson) Kidd. He passed away peacefully in Temple, Texas on January 16, 2026.

After graduating Mullens High School in West Virginia, Mike served in the United States Air Force from 1959 to 1963. He was honorably discharged after serving most of his service at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas. After serving his country, he began his lifelong career in law enforcement. His career started as a patrolman in Washington D.C. for a short term before returning to Texas to work for the Killeen Police Department. In Killeen, he was a police officer patrolman most of the time but also completed training at Texas A&M to become a polygraph examiner for the department. He even was the department’s scuba instructor certifying officers for the dive search and recovery team. Mike went on to serve Bell County for many years as a Deputy Sheriff where he truly found his calling. He looked at his job like he was there to help people regardless of their circumstances and he loved doing it. It truly would have been difficult to find a more compassionate and kinder deputy with the ability to relate and get along with almost anyone, Mike was that man.

Mike married Rachel in 1985 and were able to spend 40 wonderful years together. Mike and Rachel were members of Grace Christian Center, which is now Charis Church. Mike joined Rachel there becoming a member in 1984. He was baptized there and that’s where they were married. For a good number of years, Mike provided security for the church as he attended services; members were in good hands.

Mike was a man of many talents and varied interests. Not surprisingly, he was an expert marksman earning many shooting awards from law enforcement. He also made it a point to go win a turkey shoot every Thanksgiving as his boys were growing up, he always said that’s how he could afford to feed them! Many know Mike was an excellent cook and truly enjoyed it. Few know Mike once cooked for President Lyndon B. Johnson at the LBJ Ranch. Many know Mike always had a passion for fixing up old cars and trucks and could fix about anything. Few know he once owned and operated a stock car race track in Killeen. He drove stock cars, drag cars, rode a motorcycle and owned a sailboat as well.

Hard to believe, but Mike still could have missed his calling as a botanist, it seemed to come naturally to him. He enjoyed caring for Rachel’s and his plants and loved the beautiful flowers they produced. One of them was a gorgeous hibiscus, but he called it his “hot biscuits” plant; he was often feeling happy and silly too. Whether he was walking in the mountains of West Virginia or any Texas landscape, he had no trouble identifying a vast library of trees, flowers, shrubs, ivy, grasses, you name it…actually, you likely couldn’t, but he could!

When Mike was around, you often heard him laughing or at the very least saw his big contagious grin. He lived his life well and had a lot of fun along the way. His sons called him Papa, but many others considered him their father figure as well and Mike never shied away from that responsibility; he always carried it well.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife Rachel of 40 years. He is also survived by his sons, Mike Jr. and wife Sharee, Kent and wife Christine, Jeff and wife Kimberly, his step-son David Collier and wife Jara. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren,13 great-grandchildren and many extended family members. He was preceded in death by his father Raymond, mother Evelyn, brothers Joe and Buck, step-daughter Laura Gaines and step-son Chris Collier.

Visitation and funeral services are scheduled for Thursday, January 29th at Charis Church at 1401 E Elms Rd, Killeen, TX. Visitation is from 2 to 3 p.m. with funeral services starting at 3 p.m.