Mike is preceded in death by his parents, Reuben Ludger Lapeyrouse and Nancy Godwin Harris, and stepfather Edward Crampton Harris. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Middleton Lapeyrouse; his children, Clay Harris Lapeyrouse, Bessie Lapeyrouse Stinson (Will), Michael Ludger Lapeyrouse (Audrey), Anna Lucille Lapeyrouse, and Henry Hybart Lapeyrouse; his grandchildren, Julie Hunter Stinson, Mary Evangeline Stinson, Ludger Greenwood Lapeyrouse, and Michael Hunter Lapeyrouse (sharing his first cries with his grandfather being born only three hours before Mike's passing); and his stepchildren, Ann Katherine Loper and Jeremy Grey Loper, Jr., all of whom were his greatest joys and pride. He is also survived by his siblings, Stephen Ludger Lapeyrouse, John Godwin Lapeyrouse (Beth), and Julie Lapeyrouse Hartley (Jeffery), and his nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
A gracious host and quintessential Southern gentleman, Mike created an environment where everyone felt welcome, loved, appreciated, and able to make memories. Mike enjoyed gatherings with friends and family, whether it involved Alabama football, boat riding, turkey hunting or being at Longino, his family's hunting camp and Mike's own Heaven on Earth. He loved being the cook for grazing meals which famously included his mushrooms in butter wine sauce, oysters on the grill, whole beef tenderloins and his mother's West Indies salad.
Mike – affectionately known to many as Lap, Pop, Big Mike, or Buddy, and to himself as King Daddy – was born in Mobile on March 16, 1955. He attended UMS-Wright Preparatory School and later attended the University of Alabama for his undergraduate and law degrees. Mike started his professional career as an attorney at Armbrecht Jackson, and quickly realized practicing law was not his passion. He then moved on to work for Cooper/T. Smith, where he learned about the maritime industry and the insurance needed to cover maritime risk. He worked with others at Cooper/T. Smith to form The American Equity Underwriters, Inc. (AEU) in 1993, and four years later, the American Longshore Mutual Association, managed by AEU, which today is the nation's leading provider of USL&H workers' compensation serving more than 1,500 maritime employers.
As President and CEO of AEU, Mike created a culture where employees and customers were like family. For decades, he inspired AEU employees to share his values of exceptional service, constant innovation, and the unending pursuit of greatness. He took a genuine interest in the lives of his colleagues and customers, and his effortlessly disarming demeanor made new acquaintances feel like lifelong friends.
Mike believed deeply in bettering others and giving back to the community. A natural servant leader and devoted Christian, Mike humbly used his position of leadership and influence to establish the Corporate Big program for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Alabama, greatly expanding the organization's reach and positively impacting the lives of thousands of youth in the Mobile area.
Mike's family and close friends will gather privately to remember him on Wednesday, September 1 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. For others who wish to pay their respects, there will be a celebration of life at the Country Club of Mobile that day from 12:00 to 2:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Mike's name to Hybart-Bell’s Landing Preservation Society (c/o Jane Ellen Clark, 25592 Hwy 41 N., Vredenburgh, AL 36481 or Venmo to @JaneEllen-Clark), St. Paul’s Episcopal School (161 Dogwood Ln., Mobile, AL 36608), or St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (4051 Old Shell Rd., Mobile, AL 36608).
Mike will be deeply missed by everyone whose lives he touched. And so, as he would say in moments of happiness and sorrow; in victory and defeat; for greetings, farewells and everything in between, "Roll Tide."
