Michael Tyler Artley

When he wasn’t ignoring a school assignment, forgetting to clean his room, or torturing his older sister trying to prove he was smarter, he spent most of his youth developing his natural basketball talent and criss-crossing the state with his travel basketball league. Basketball led him to closely follow the careers of Allen Iverson, Lebron James, Steph Curry, and dozens more. His other fandoms included all of the Detroit sports teams but he was best known for being an ardent, even rabid, Michigan Wolverine sports fan.

Unconstrained by the pressures of society, Mikie took to the world asking the question “Why do we have to?” at every turn and major milestone.

In place of his formal education he was an avid reader who ferociously consumed content on the political, the historical, the philosophical, and even the whimsical. Psychedelic rock was his religion. He was frequently accompanied by the sounds of guitarists and he prayed at the altar of Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, and the many other artists that lifted his spirit and brought him to write and play his own music over the years.

After completing a 15 year test-run with his older sister he quickly became outnumbered, gaining three more sisters, and was promoted to the important role of big brother. He cherished his little sisters Maria, Kate, and Anna in an indescribable way and set out to be a constant presence in their lives. Even as he dreamed of relocating to various parts of the country throughout his twenties he maintained his residence within minutes of his sisters to keep a close eye on them.

He valued his friendships and believed in found family or “habibi” as he frequently called those close to him. With his unimpressed attitude about personal wealth or pedigree, Mikie connected with people of all walks of life everywhere he went.

If sports and music were his passion, he was called to a vocation of cooking, much like his father. He regularly used food as a creative and connecting outlet and found his work in various restaurants over the years, most recently with his Saucy’s and Telly’s family.

He didn’t find life to be the smoothest and experienced rough bumps as he matured, but he had a disarming gentleness that those close to him would see from time to time. This was especially present with every animal he has ever encountered including his favorite dogs Autumn and Loki. His family recalls the revolving door of pets which included a hamster, snake, at least three dogs, and as many cats (especially our family cat Boots who he nursed to the age of 17).

Mikie has been welcomed to his eternal rest by his great grandparents Chuck and Josie, Roy and Lillian, his grandparents Sam and June, his uncles Chuck, Dale, Doug (Connie), and Gary, and by his beloved Grandma Linny and stepfather Jim who were awaiting him.

His memory will live on through an extensive list of family and friends who loved him dearly including his four sisters Samantha (Michael), Maria, Kathleen, and Anna; his parents Michael and Claudia; his stepmother Sharon, his grandparents Michael and Cathy, aunts, uncles, cousins, and many many others who impacted his life.

A memorial service will be held at AH Peters Funeral Home in Grosse Pointe Woods on Thursday June 15 from 2:00pm-7:00pm. From 1:00pm-2:00pm will be a private viewing for immediate invited family only. Following the private viewing, the family will open up to extended family and friends of Mikie and a service will be held at 6:00pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to ReJoyceful Animal Rescue of Clinton Township to bring together a wanted dog with an owner in need of rescue in Mikie’s memory. www.rejoycefulrescue.com

"Fare thee well now.

Let your life proceed by its own design

Nothing to tell now.

Let the world be yours, I'm done with mine"

~Cassidy, The Grateful Dead