Mikel Lane Trail

He was born on June 3, 1982, in Atwood, Kansas, the third child of Ray and Rosa (Carra) Trail.

As a child, Mikel excelled at the things that interested him. He was a Boy Scout, won several academic awards (including ones for geography and spelling), and attended church camp held by the Christian Church of Atwood of which he was baptized. Mikel graduated from Atwood High School and was well rounded--participating in Scholars Bowl, playing saxophone in band, and singing in the Consort show choir and his church. After school, Mikel worked at the local grocery store, Williams Bros.

Eventually, Mikel moved East and attended the University of Kansas where he studied business, sprinkling in art classes along the way. Next, he moved to Kansas City where he began a career with Kindred at Home. Mikel spent all of his career working in Human Resources (HR), steadily taking on more responsibilities. Eventually moving to Atlanta, Georgia, he continued to advance, becoming the Division Vice President of HR Employee Services. Mikel was a natural leader, had great attention to detail and could always be counted on to bring a well-considered solution to complicated problems. He also worked, often behind the scenes, to make his workplace a great place for all employees. He was known throughout Kindred for his sense of humor, his willingness to adapt to change and his support as a colleague. Perhaps it was Mikel’s ability to relate so well to people that led him to a successful career as a human resources executive.

Away from work, Mikel enjoyed a variety of interests. He loved to cook (he made amazing salsa and lasagna), grow numerous plants (inside and out), loved reading and doing Sudoku. He regularly donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank and the Atlanta Humane Society. He created a warm, loving, beautiful home for Jeff and their beloved orange tabby, Tucker (who received daily snuggles).

Christmas meant indulging in his favorite holiday, which involved decorating not one, but three beautiful trees throughout the house. He also loved spending time with his family in Kansas, traveling to Wichita and Atwood every Christmas and Fourth of July.

Mikel was widely admired by everyone who knew him for his generosity, kindness, sincerity, sense of humor and quick wit and creativity. He was a beloved son, brother, uncle, husband, nephew, colleague and friend who will be dearly missed.

Mikel is survived by his husband, Jeffrey Breit; parents, Ray and Rosa Trail; sisters, Rosa Lee and husband, Donnie Waterman, Roxane and husband, Dino Hestermann; nephews & niece, Morgan and wife, Becki Waterman, Shane and wife, Lindsay Waterman, Elizabeth and husband, Aaron Palmer, Gabriel and wife, Danielle Waterman, Jayme Hestermann, Zachary and wife, Nichole Hestermann; 13 great nieces and nephews, and many friends.

Visitation with family present will be from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2022; funeral service 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 1, both at Resthaven Mortuary, 11800 W. Highway 54, Wichita, Kansas.

Memorials have been established with the Kansas Humane Society, Kansas Food Bank, Atlanta Humane Society and the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ResthavenMortuary-Cemetery.com for the Trail family.

“ALL IN THE PLAN”

MIKEL LANE TRAIL, 40

Lived Life June 3, 1982, through July 21, 2022

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE

Resthaven Mortuary / Wichita, KS

10:30 AM, Monday, August 1, 2022

EULOGIST

Cyndi Mendoza-Jones

There is a well-known phrase which says, 'if you fail to plan, you are planning to fail', and it shows great insight by which, when making a good, well-thought-out plan, we are more likely to succeed. The word PLAN itself (spell out P-L-A-N), as a noun, means, a detailed proposal doing something, an intention or decision and as a verb, it’s to decide on and arrange in advance. An interesting way to start a celebration I know, but when you think about it, we all had to plan to be here, and you have a plan once you leave, so really, to begin Mikel’s service with a plan, should come as no surprise as he was one to plan everything he did.

Welcome, on behalf of the family, thank you for joining us in this celebration of Mikel. I am Eulogist Cyndi Mendoza-Jones and honored to be a part of this tribute. Today we will follow a plan of sorts, a chronological one that, like Mikel would write, is “A message that is clear, deliberate, and in words you’re able to hear.” Like his career, from the clinicians in the field to the CEO, “Mikel mattered and so does his narrative.” Though he’d not like the accolades, when he let you in, you got to know the true Mikel, so guess what, today, you’re all a part of the PLAN. The word ends in the letter “N” because we’re all “in” today and without you and him, there would be no story.

Let us begin with a blessing:

God of Solace and Sorrow, be with each person here as we begin to try to put one foot in front of the other. We trust your comforting arms, your soothing spirit, and your assurances that there is a thin place between life and death where the memories can flow back and forth.

We thank you for the gift of Mikel, who was a shining example of a special life.

For the gathering of friends who are committed to being present for this grieving family.

For the knowledge that your love and guidance can be a comfort to those on the grief journey and we thank you for this opportunity to capture memories and hold them tight in our souls.

Bless each person with your peace and comfort.

For all of these gifts we say thank you and Amen

1982 was a year that changed history in many ways. Michael Jackson released the Thriller Album, Disney opened EPCOT, the science fiction film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” debuted, and the first episode of Late Night with David Letterman hit the airways on NBC, all of which took major behind the scenes planning. Yet for our story, 1982 comes with the introduction of another sort, for Ray and Rosa Trail. You see Ray and Rosa had two children, Rosa Lee and Roxane, and that year Rosa had been challenged with some thyroid issues of which she was given medication and strict instructions, “No babies for at least a year.” Rosa thought, my children are 15 and 18, I’m not having any more children. Little did she know what that thyroid medicine would do when on June 3 of that year, the Trail family welcomed a handsome and charismatic little boy, they’d name Mikel Lane. He weighed in just under 6 lbs. and his name, traditional, yet spelled, M-I-K-E (L), was picked by his mom and sisters and was “A gift from God,” Rosa says.

Ray was a service technician for KN Energy and Rosa was a stay-at-home mom who watched not only Mikel but grandchildren, Morgan and Jayme too, in their house, where they still live, which sits at the top of the hill on 7th Street in Mikel’s hometown of Atwood, KS. Rosa remembers Mikel being baptized at the 1st Christian Church. His favorite stuffed animal being an elephant and his favorite book, “The Little Saggy Baggy Elephant” kept right with the theme. She recalls, the kids played hide and seek, walked to the pond to fish with their matching caps on or to the pool to swim. They caught fireflies in the yard and if inside, when all the doors were opened, the house made a big circle, and you’d find them running or riding their bikes all the way through. He was a good eater who ate almost everything, and once bedtime came, after reading stories like “The Little Red Hen,” they sat to read bible stories and sang, “This little light of Mine.”

His education, at Atwood Schools, began around age 6, where, when young, mom walked him to and from and his dog, Candy, a ½ dachshund ½ rat terrier or one of his ducks, perhaps Ducky Lucky, the boy, or Daisy Lazy, the girl, met him when he arrived. Now, Candy wasn’t the attack dog, in fact, Ducky Lucky tended to be the one to attack the mailman which Mikel quickly corrected. It’s in these early years his planning began when working on projects for school, from collecting rocks to memorizing parts for the plays at the library. There was boy scouts and camping trips as well as he began a paper route for the McCook Gazette. His work ethic began young as he quickly learned, that when you put the paper just right or where they asked you too, the tips that came in at Christmas really showed he was doing a stellar job. As the grades came and went, so did his ambitions as he won the geography bee in 6th grade and the spelling bee in 8th. Played the piano and saxophone in not only the band, but also the jazz band where when he went to individual contests, he earned no less than a 1 rating each time. And when you thought that was all, friend LeAndra wrote about, “Being lucky enough to be his ballet partner from 4th grade on. They did amazing dances and were usually based on his artistic vision.” He was also in choir, church choir and consort which is show choir at school. He ran relays in track. Was on the honor roll, in scholar’s bowl, and another friend, Leslie says, “They were involved in art, the Creative Arts Club,” where he won a few awards too. We know these facts from not only friends, but also because his mom saved everything, from the plastic pants that covered his diapers to the newspaper clippings for each event. But please don’t let this stop you from believing he didn’t enjoy time outside of school as friends Jeff, Nick, Ben, and Owen can all attest to stories of not only scout outings but also paint gun battles and fun out on the farm.

Even young, he truly was one to look forward. From riding his bike delivering papers, to driving that Chrysler New Yorker to sack groceries and stock shelves, he had a plan. A plan that once he graduated in 2001, came into view, in the colors of red and blue of the college KU.

God knows who we are, what we were made to be, and what we will become. And our first song, one Mikel’s parent’s chose, it speaks of how God can see the world as it was planned to and will be in the New Creation.

It’s called the “Hymn of Promise” which states in part:

In the bulb there is a flower; in the seed, an apple tree;

In cocoons, a hidden promise; butterflies will soon be free!

In the cold and snow of winter, there spring that waits to be,

Unrevealed until its season, something God alone can see.

There is a vow in all things from our Lord and Savior, such as a tree from the seed. We must be patient and take solace in this “Hymn of Promise.”

SONG “HYMN OF PROMISE”

A clear plan will help you think through what you want to achieve, and to know what you need to get there. It helps with motivation - and perhaps holidays, when young, helped motivate Mikel too as his were full of family and fun as birthdays were homemade cakes made by mom and his favorite treats where brought for party’s at school. Thanksgiving was across the street at Grandpa and Grandma Trail’s, this was the main place for holiday hangouts, yet on this day you could find Mikel filling his plate with mashed potatoes and gravy and grandma’s delicious pumpkin or apple pie. Christmas was truly his favorite where the family tree was adorned with ornaments of old and new before a star or angel was placed on top. Then it was off to church for Christmas Eve service before the cookies and milk were placed for Santa. And on the day of Jesus’ birth, there was reflection of the meaning read from the bible before the enjoyment of gifts. Easter was for coloring eggs and baskets full of fun, and the 4th of July, the holiday he still returned home for, was where homemade butter pecan ice cream was churned and fireworks filled the night sky.

When we think of life so far, there’s no need to wonder how it propelled Mikel into his future plan. He could simply look at a project and know where A started and how to get to Z. He was fascinated with art and the big city. Always talked about it. And perhaps he wondered how those rockets shot tall on the 4th of July, was enamored by the beauty of a decorated tree, or seeing how their home was a circle with all the doors opened and these helped him realize he wanted to be an architect. His mom hoped he’d stay closer and attend Colby Community College, yet the University of Kansas, being in the bigger city of Lawrence, really piqued his interest and he hit the ground running taking interior design, art, and business classes all while maintaining jobs at places such as Steve Madden, Wilson Leather, or Banana Republic.

Mikel worked hard in school, but he also took time for himself, in fact, it was at a hibachi grill for a birthday party he’d meet his partner Jeff. They’d make small talk while dancing on the Plaza in Kansas City and when Jeff asked Mikel a question, Mikel responded with a snotty answer. Jeff thought, “Oh, wow. What a brat.” So as the night progressed, Jeff made his way back around to the handsome man and said, “Give me a cigarette,” in a bossy, kind of tone and that, is how Mikel met Jeff.

Life for the pair started long distance as Jeff moved to Seattle, with Sprint, for a year. Yet upon his return, he too found an apartment in Lawrence however, it wasn’t long, and Mikel hired on in an entry level position with Gentiva, which after a few mergers, is now Kindred at Home, and he made a move to Kansas City, where, after Jeff was able to join him, the pair found, not only a home, but a 1936 Tudor at 206 E. 73rd in Waldo. This stucco and red brick home had a fireplace that jutted up, green shutters outlined the windows, and sweet gum trees provided shade to the manicured lawn that each Mikel and Jeff prided themselves in. Can you picture it? It sounds like it should be on the front page of an architectural magazine that Mikel himself curated. This was their first home, and they only got better from here because when he was promoted to Atlanta, oh the condo in the arts district, but wait, now it’s the house in the Vining’s. In the ITP as Mikel said, “In the perimeter” of the arts area of the ATL. Just the area Mikel had hoped to be in, but this wasn’t to be their last home.

Jeff says Mikel always left work at the office, and at home, it was their time, especially snuggles with Tucker, their orange tabby cat. The pair spent their time traveling to the beaches of Ft. Lauderdale; with Mikel decorating the house, especially for birthdays with friends and Christmas’s where they had not only 1 but 3 trees and each looked as if they came straight from the floor of the ritziest store. He made the time special for company, especially when his niece and nephews visited. And we can’t forget about going back to his roots each year for the 4th of July. Here they’d fly into Wichita, where Jeff made his way home to Hays as Mikel stopped in to see his sisters before his weekly trip to Atwood where his mom and dad had a project list he proudly completed before returning home.

And this brings us to 2021. When all of a sudden, after 15 years together, Mikel surprised Jeff and said, “Do you want to get married? We’ll do it in Vegas.” Jeff of course said, “Yes!” Then there was time at the mall where Jeff picked out what fit and for Mikel, it was nothing less than Brooks Brother’s, where they found stunning gray suits with silky pink ties. They booked a room at Caesars Palace, and after messing up the knot in his tie and giving his famous eye roll, (which is on camera) Mikel was ready. Then on October 22, together at the Chapel of Flowers, the pair vowed to “trust and respect, to stand by each other’s side,” and with their sincere promises were married. A true gift seen in each other’s eyes and captured in pictures for eternity.

Our next song, Amazing Grace, doesn’t originate from the gospel, yet it’s words line right up to it. It was written by and Englishman whose journey brought him through rough times and troubled seas where “One night as he was sailing through a violent storm, he cried out, “Lord, have mercy on me.” And in the genuineness of the moment, “He felt that God had come to him, and that the presence of God had protected him in that storm.” Therefore, he was thankful for the Lord’s Amazing Grace and wrote this, the most popular song of all time. Mikel loved classical music, kept his car of SiriusXM 76, Symphony Hall, so in his honor, we listen to this classical version, of this most beloved song, Amazing Grace.

SONG “AMAZING GRACE” BY PAUL J. KENNY

Effective planning promotes an attitude that is positive and focused. When you are committed to following a plan through, you are moving forward in a particular direction, towards a clear goal. And this is exactly what Mikel did at work, stayed positive, focused, and planned. He was the one to be kind and who treated everyone the same, the message boards echo this, Elaine even stating, “I think it’s been 10 years since I first met Mikel. What a kind soul who had a quick wit that made him so relatable. We commiserated over so many difficult things we faced over the years. I will miss his genuine spirit and smiling face, along with our dry humor that could bring light to a difficult situation.” Dean wrote, “I worked alongside Mikel for nearly 13 years. He had a smile on his face every day when we greeted each other. When we had an important project or initiative, Mikel was always asked to be on the HR team that would handle the mission critical aspects. He was impeccable in his work and delivered everything asked of him promptly and with that same smile. Mikel was a trusted business partner and a very, very kind person.”

Mikel worked his way up from that entry level position to Division Vice President of Human Resources in 14 years. His direct team now is 130 people strong. When speaking to Jane, the President of HR, who has worked with Mikel for the past 5 years, she spoke of his “technical and analytical style.” How he was the “Go to for system and process questions.” How, “in the last 5 years he’s spent 1,000’s of hours supporting clinicians and doctors. How during the pandemic, he took the lead at getting 40,000 corporate employees vaccinated via writing policy and procedure and programming vaccine cards for the last 2 years.” And more recently, “he was project manager lead on lifting and shifting 18,000 employees onto a new payroll platform. He quietly and humbly led yet was a subject matter expert who was instrumental in making things happen.” Jane was, “mentoring him for a move up.” He knew the mechanical parts of this next position and now he was learning the employee relations side as she was giving him the tools and resources to move to the next level of President. This was his 4-year plan.

A little over a month ago, Jeff celebrated with Mikel on his 40th birthday. Had Alexa help him sing and a few weeks ago, was able to enjoy his annual 4th of July with family too. But unfortunately, it was followed by a solid 2 weeks of not feeling well. Lethargic, tired, and what he thought was indigestion. He rested on the couch and a week later, on Friday, Jeff knew something was wrong. After a visit to minor emergency and blood pressure readings of over 220, they were sent to the ER. Only Mikel could go in, Jeff had to wait, had to sleep in the car due to overcrowding. They texted through the night, an EKG and scans were performed and after some trial and error, there was a minor change in his pressure and he was released, under the conditions to see his doctor to which, on that day, at his doctor’s visit, his pressure read in the high 180’s. Still high but less. Finally, over the next few days, Mikel was getting rest. Slept 7 hours one night and Tuesday the 19th, he was still sleeping when Jeff left for work, so they both felt good about the improvement.

So, you can imagine the heartache that came two days later, a sudden and unthinkable loss, we now know was caused by an aortic aneurism, came so unexpectedly that Thursday morning at work.

An abrupt loss most still say, “feels like a dream.”

An effective plan has reviews built in to help you reflect on progress. This will allow you to make any necessary changes, monitor your goals and encourage you to keep moving forward. Mikel always reflected and was thankful for each and every step made, and he still had that 4-year plan at work. He and Jeff had plans for two more homes. One they were looking for now, with a pool, and the next would have been their last. Mikel always worked the Friday after Thanksgiving so his employees could have the weekend off with family. He made sure to call out your name and tell you to have a good night or give you a hug before you left. He loved to read, cook, play Sudoku, and at work, he’d even rewrite an email 3 times to not offend anyone, and he always made sure to end it in kind.

As mentioned at the beginning, Mikel was private, didn’t like accolades, but was someone everyone knew and could count on. And once he let you in, you saw the humor, you saw the plan and Mikel, he still had a plan. So how do you keep it moving forward? Jeff, you can still have that next house with a pool and the second one, Mikel went before to have that prime real estate ready in the ITP of heaven. How about taking pictures of a meal made and texting it to someone like he’d do with his family. You could take a chair outside and read a book or try and plan the end game of a Sudoku? More importantly how about calling someone’s name before they leave today and tell them thank you for being a part of your day. There’s no time to waste, and always remember, no matter how you choose to incorporate him, each time you do, it’s only one way to keep the legacy of Mikel Lane Trail alive in your plan of life.

Before our final song, let us close with a blessing.

Heavenly Father,

We gathered today because you promised that wherever two or more are gathered, you will be there also.

You gave this family and friends such a gift of a man who made a difference in every life that he touched.

Though saddened he is gone, we are blessed for the time he was here.

Send us from this place stronger, wiser and more aware of things that matter for having known and loved Mikel.

Stitch up the wounds in our hearts, dry our tears in your own good time and help each person here to carry on with

the generosity, the strength of spirit, and the love of family and friends that you gave to Mikel.

We ask all of these things in Jesus’ name, Amen.

SONG “HERE I AM LORD” BY JOHN MICHAEL TALBOT

Eulogy written and performed by Eulogist Cyndi Mendoza-Jones | [email protected]