James Michael Fair

The Chiefs Kingdom gained a new warrior as we announce that James “Mike” Michael Fair, age 65, passed suddenly, surrounded by his children and grandchildren, on Sunday, November 24, 2024, in Wichita, Kansas. He was born on December 14, 1958, in Joplin, to the late Sara Patricia (Burket) and Jimmie Dale Fair and was brother to Alan, Cathy, Linda, and Jeff.

Mike worked hard in all he did. School, where he graduated from Memorial High School in Joplin, Missouri, class of 1977 is just the start, then you add a career at Ritchie Paving, Western Mobile, then spent the last 25 years at Waste Connections where he became the lead of container shop welding. However, what truly made him the man he was, gave him the drive to be the best, began when he became a dad with his three children: Elizabeth “Liz”, Matthew “Matt”, and Sara and the three grandchildren they blessed him with too: Jordan, Gage, and Dixie.

He was a die hard republican and Kansas City Chiefs fan who loved working on cars (he always dreamed of owning a ‘57 Chevy), putting model cars together, camping and music, especially, Lynyrd Skynyrd. Not only these, but being outdoors, whether it was camping or just hanging out with family and friends, this is what made Mike thrive.

Going back to see family in Joplin was a trip taken every chance he could, and it’s said, “He could be a real hard ass” on his kids, yet he did it out of love and wanting them to be successful, but that all changed when the grandkids came along. That hardness disappeared when they were around and you could tell, he thought the world of them all.

Those left cheering in his honor include his children, Elizabeth (Teddy Graves) Fair, Matthew Fair, and Sara (Will Holder) Fair; grandchildren: Jordan Eugene Lamm, Gage Michael Fair, and Dixie Lee Maskrid; and siblings, Alan (Janine) Caldwell, Linda (Ron) Clemons, Jeff (Christy) Fair, brother-in-law, Garry Harrel; his fur baby husky, Angel; the mother of his children, Sara Elizabeth Billings, along with many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Joining those gone before, Mike is now reunited with his parents; sister, Cathy Harrel; and uncles, Ronald Fair and Danny McKinzie.

Please join us at a come and go visitation for Mike on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 West Highway 54, Wichita, KS 67209.

MEMORIAL: As an expression of sympathy, the family has designated donations may be made to:

Bikers Against Child Abuse at bacaworld.org