John Michael Corey

John Michael “Mike” Corey, 73, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, passed away on February 4, 2026. An avid tennis player, devoted father, proud Veteran, and loyal friend, Mike lived a life marked by generosity, humor, and quiet strength.

Originally from North Carolina, Mike was the only boy in a family with three sisters. He proudly served in the U.S. Army before building a long and respected career at Honeywell Aerospace, where he worked as a General Supervisor in the machine shop. It was there, in 1987, that he met a colleague and fellow tennis enthusiast, Rob Lampman.

Their shared love of the game led to countless Saturday mornings on local courts — from high schools to Kiwanis Park and Gene Autry Park — forging a friendship that would span decades.

In 2007, Mike joined the IronOaks Tennis Club in Sun Lakes, where he became a familiar and beloved presence. Whether competing fiercely on the clay, enjoying spirited rallies, or lingering in conversation after a match, Mike brought warmth and laughter wherever he went.

A memorial service will be held on February 28 from 1 to 3 pm at Valley of the Sun Mortuary, located at 10940 E. Chandler Heights Rd., Chandler, AZ 85248.

Some remembrances from his tennis family:

“In years past, Mike and I used to play quite regularly on the clay. We had some great matches, many if not most of which he won. We had some good tennis and good conversations! Mike was always smiling and laughing, full of life! He will be missed!” - Jack Sanders

“Mike was a very special guy with a great sense of humor. He was always teasing me about ‘going to the dark side’ when I began playing pickleball on a regular basis. It was our daily ritual. He was a memorable fellow and will surely be missed by all of us who had the pleasure of knowing him and playing tennis with him for many years at IronOaks Tennis Club. - Tom Snider

“Using my native language, he was a bloody good bloke. Translation — he was one of the good guys. If any of his friends ever needed help or assistance, no matter the size of the problem, he would always step in — he didn't need to be asked. One rather frivolous recent example: A few weeks ago, my wife and I wanted to go to a

concert at Cottonwood. However, tickets were only available to residents of Cottonwood, Oakwood, and Ironwood — we live in Solera. I was complaining about this to a few of the tennis club members, including Mike, one day. He didn't say anything, but the next time I saw him, he gave me an envelope containing two tickets, each priced at $50. I had cash on me, so I handed him $100 — he absolutely refused to accept it. His reasoning was that I had ‘tolerated’ (his word) hitting with him a couple of times a week for a few years, so it was the least he could do.” - Austin Mason “In 2007, Mike joined the IronOaks Tennis Club, and I followed him there later that year. Mike lost his lovely wife Pat in 1997 at a young age due to cancer. Their daughter, Megan, was only 12 years old at the time. Sometimes she would come to the courts with him when we played tennis. I remember how Mike made sure (in a good way) that Megan was doing her math problems. Today, she is a very successful electrical engineer. Mike was always so very proud of her.

In addition to his time on the tennis court, Mike traveled extensively internationally after retiring from Honeywell. Some of the places he spent his summers include Brazil, South Africa, and many countries in Eastern and Western Europe. Mike had a very witty sense of humor, and he enjoyed ribbing his tennis buddies in good fun. Mike was a very good friend, and we will miss him greatly.” - Rob Lampman