All thoughts of you bring a smile to my face.  You only made me smile, only made me laugh and brought bringhtness where our paths crossed.  You truly leave a wonderful legacy Mike.

Pam...I just heard tonite that mike has passed away. I am so very sorry. I will always miss him and will be praying for you. Love bobbi catesi

Pam, Michael and Nick:

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.

I met Mike and his brother, Kelly in high school but it would be 20+ years before I would really get to know him.

Pam and Patty were forming a local service club here in Temecula. They had been invited to the district convention to be introduced to all the other clubs. Significant others were also invited. As we all sat at the table swapping small talk, Mike and I realized that we went to high school together many years ago. 

One thing lead to another and soon, we were all at each other's houses several times a week. We would enjoy Pam's cooking, long conversations and our pool. Our pool slide brought out the inner child in Mike.

What I will miss most about Mike was his kindness and sense of humor. He was was always the jokester but he also had the kindest of hearts. Willing to go the extra mile for his friends. When Patty and I could not find a minister for our wedding, Mike went online and got ordained so that he could marry us.

Mike, I know that you are in good place. So I raise my turkey leg and say Edelweiss.

Philip, Patty and Jaylene

Pam, I will lift you and your family up in my prayers during this trying and difficult time.  You were so helpful and supportive to so many.  May God be as kind and caring to you and your family and carry you through this time.

Pam, my thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.  Although I have only known you for a short time, your kindness has made this difficult time in my life more bearable - please know that I am here for you!

To the McLaurin family,

     Mike was the 1st employee we hired when Culver Careers was incorporated in 1979 in San Diego. (Mike's father probably even remembers working with Bill Culver as a client at Merrill Lynch during those years, I believe.) Mike worked for us for 3 years and resigned.  He then rejoined Culver in 1985 and he bacame the 1st employee that we re hired.  He worked for us for about 18 months the 2nd time.  During those years and expecially from 1981 through 1990, I could easily call Mike a very close friend.  We played tennis together probably a hundred times.  Mike was a great competitor, and we enjoyed our evenly played matches.  We also frequented the single scene together("The Hop" in Fountain Valley was one of Mike's favorites, as well as "Johnnys" on 17th and Tustin in Santa Ana.)in Orange County as we were searching for the right spouse.  I was so happy when Mike married Pam and had a family.   

     The tragedy of Mike's passing is difficult for all who knew and loved him.  He was such a fun person to be around.  He loved life, making funny comments to make people laugh, and he never took himself too serious.  I never heard him say a negative thing about another individual.  Always positive and happy and funny. Mike had a huge heart, and a wonderful spirit.  Especially those 5 years(1982 to 1987) we spent together as very close friends were some fun years that bring warm, special memories of great times.  

     The pain is great right now, but I know that as time goes on whenever Mike comes to mind, they will smile.  Mike left all of us with a smile for having known a man that was all about kindness, happiness, and an easy going personality that showed how much he enjoyed life with every single person he came into contact with.

     I have a smile right now as I remember my dear friend Mike McLaurin.
I miss you Mike.  Rest in peace.  May God be with you.

I've known Mike since 1993, when my family moved up to Temecula from Poway. He was by far one of the most interesting and funny people that I have ever known. There was never a dull moment with Mike—he always knew how to crack the right joke at the right time to make people laugh. Moreover, there was something unique—call it a, “Mikeness”--about his general quirkiness that drew people to him. 

Our family lived across the street and I used to always play football—and other sports—with Mike, Nick, (and Michael, once he was old enough). One of the first things that Mike taught me was, “if you touch it, you catch it!” Perhaps this is what propelled Nick and me to be brave enough to dive for the football countless times (on the asphalt street). Or, maybe, we were just boys being boys and didn't mind getting scraped up. Whatever the case, having Mike as our all-time quarterback made our childhoods memorable. He rarely said “no” when we asked him to drop whatever it was he was doing to spend time with us. Many times, at the end of a long day of playing and getting scrapped up, Pam would fix some type of delicious Southern cuisine and we'd all end up hanging out well into the night. These are some of the best childhood memories anyone could ask for. 

Life moves too fast. All too often, our memories of things, people, and events are fragmented blurs of what they once were.  However, there are certain ones that will forever remain imprinted in our hearts and minds. My memory of Mike is one such example. He was a great human being. While we are saddened by our loss, we must remember also that death is an inescapable part of life, so we must cherish the important things and people that make life worth living.

Dear Pam, Nick & Michael...we are so sad to hear that your wonderful husband and father has passed away. We are thinking of you and lifting you up in our prayers. We have missed seeing you all in California! You are in our hearts and we're sending our love out to you. Please take good care and keep in touch. We love you, The Toy Family - Ken, Christine, Chelsea, Jordi (aka Haley) & Matthew

Pam, Michael, & Nick,

I am so sorry for your tremendous loss.

Mike had a special place in our life...he was the best man at our wedding and we chose him to be the Godfather of our son Zack.

He made me feel very welcomed when I joined the McLaurin family. He had such a keen sense of humor and always kept us laughing.

Zack remembers the Christmas that Mike bought him the biggest and most expensive remote control car he could find. It was a Lincoln Navigator with a MP 3 player, spinners, and electric windows.  Zack was the envy of all the kids on the block. 

I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

I met Pam and Mike in 1993 when i was 13 and we lived on Corte Gutierrez - they have always been kind, and thoughtful, growing up we never grew apart, talked all the time, family friends forever - Mike will be missed, but I can still remember hearing his voice, we love you Mike and will miss you.  To Pam, Michael, and Nicholas - you know where we are, you can always call.. XOXOXO - The Moats Family (Temecula, CA)

Mike was definatley a bright, funny, one of a kind person who will be missed.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

My deepest sympathy to the McLaurin family & friend he had a good sense of humor he love joking.He also was very respectful,kind,& a humble man,we all love him at Chateaux Dijon he will be missed but not forgotten, he will always be in our hearts. We love you Pam stay strong God bless you and the family.

Mike McLaurin became my full time father September 30 1997. I was 11 years old, with a father that had just passed away. 

But I have known Mike since I pretty much I can remember. The first memory I have of Mike is him graciously allowing the girl at chucky cheese to keep sweeping his feet with the broom for the soul reason of my enjoyment and laughter. He treated me like he treated everyone else , with respect and his one of a kind since of humor. 
     Once he became my step father we built forts together and wrestled with Mikey during summers in California. He was a perfect example of a step parent.
    After my dad passed away Mike adopted me as his son, and raised from that moment forward. Although, as a child I was never fully able to let myself accept him as a father,  he did everything possible to be a good dad. He taught me professionalism, respect, the importance of a good sense of humor, and most importantly how to be a good husband and father. 
    Ultimately, I feel blessed in the fact that In my life I have had two men love me and call me their son. As my life continues I will keep my goal of making my Father's proud. I am confident that with the Lord, my family, and the lasting memory of my two fathers this will allow me to achieve that goal.

My deepest sympathies for all of Mike's family and friends.  It is so difficult to believe that I won't hear his voice and experience his wonderful sense of humor again.  It is true that people come into our lives for a reason and I feel blessed that he came into ours.  Mikey, Katie and I will miss you so much!

Pam, So sad to hear of Mike's passing. I knew him to be kind and loving to you and your children. Sending you love at this difficult time

Heaven is a live comedy club right now with you pulling out all your jokes, wherever there is laughter we all know you will be in our thoughts and hearts. Mike, truly one of a kind and I call myself lucky to have known him and call him friend. 
xxxxxxx
Andrea Dixon

Pam, I am so sorry for your loss. Mike was a wonderful person who will be missed by many. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you my friend. xo

Pam...I was so sad to hear that Mike has passed on.  He always brought a smile to my face and made me laugh.

Mike I fell in love with your humor after your first practical joke on Pam and myself.  You owned the gift of laughter and the kindness that many people search for in life, but don't always obtain.  Pam, Nick & Mike, I am so sorry for your great loss.  I wish I could be with you at this time, to help in anyway I could. Love you all

Will miss you Mikey..It was a pleasure having you on the grounds, (CDJ)
 
Stephen B
Bld. #8

Dearest Pam, I am so very sorry to hear about Mike. I just want you to know I love you and you are in my thoughts. Beth

Pam, Michael and Nick: There are no words to express how much Mike and your entire family touched our lives since we had the good fortune of meeting you in 1993 in our "first" California home and neighborhood; we certainly had some great times together. You are all in our thoughts at this, the most sad time of anyone's life, dealing with the death of a loved one.

It seems all who knew Mike noticed the same quality....his great humor! Our family can't think of anyone not liking Mike...He was one of the kindest men. We couldn't have asked for a better man to have married our daughter Pammie!! God blessed our family when He gave us Mikie...He was a Star!!

Pammy, Kim and I will miss Mike and his kindness. We are blessed to have known him. Love

My sincerest sympathy for your loss.  My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.

Pam I'm deeply saddend by your loss. My wish for you today is that the pain in your heart will be replaced with joyful memories you made together.

We will miss you with your wonerful sense of humor and your caring heart. Your foot print on this earth will be missed.
Love you
Jacqui,Jerry and Margee

Mike you will always be missed.  Everyone will be thinking of you whenever people come together for a gathering, wherever there is laughter you will be in the midst of it all.  We will all think of you always with laughter in our hearts. 
Pam I love you xxxx

Mike was a wonderful man. My girls fondly refer to Mike as the Quarter man. We spent many a Christmas Eve with the McLaurins. Mike would always entertain the girls by asking them various questions and when they answered them correctly, he gave them a quarter. I will remember Mike as a happy person. Always ready to lend a helping hand. Rest Peacfully Michael.
The Ellenas

Growing up, I couldn't have asked for a better older brother.  He was very athletic and took the time to work with me and get me interested in basketball, football, volleyball, and any other sport that he was into at the time.   He spent endless hours with me playing catch with the football, or games of one on one.  During those years, I remember Mike as being strong as an ox, and his on the court lessons were often punctuated by what I would characterize as flagrant fouls if I showed too much progress, but it was all in good fun.  I had a healthy respect for him during that time, probably feared him to a certain extent, but never doubted I could count on him as a true friend.    In the 1970s, Mike started playing volleyball on the beach at Sea Lodge in La Jolla.  He knew I wanted to play and he worked with me, passing the volleyball back and forth, or setting the ball for me.  He not only welcomed me, but encouraged me with to join him and his friends, even though my skills were still sorely lacking.  Some of his friends at the time were not so welcoming to the new “hack”, but Mike put them in their place in his genial, disarming way, and encouraged me to continue playing.  I enjoyed playing there for many years with Mike, and he and I were never closer than during that time.  The only time we had an issue was when I nearly cost him his lifeguard job at Sea Lodge by jumping into their pool, still covered with sand after a game.  I scurried away as he suffered the wrath of the hotel GM.  When we got home that night, I waited for him to rat me out to our parents, but he never did.  Mike was one of the funniest people I've ever known, and I've greatly missed his sense of humor as our conversations and time together became less frequent after he moved.  His passing has left a hole in our hearts that can never be filled.

Joining our mom and dad and brother all too soon, my knowing you have fallen into their loving arms will help to ease my grief.  Love you forever.

OBITUARY

Michael Wright McLaurin

6 April, 1956 – 2 August, 2012

Leitz-Eagan Funeral Home

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