Michael Ray Huffman

Michael Ray Huffman, born December 23, 1949, in Parkersburg, West Virginia, passed away on December 28, 2025, in Henderson, Nevada.

Mike’s greatest loves were his wife of 44 years, Susan, and their beloved daughter, Jessica. Lovingly known as Carnie Mike, Pop Mike, or Mr. Mike, he was a proud resident of Henderson, Nevada, for 46 years. In 2007, he retired after a long and dedicated career as a welder at TIMET.

Mike had a truly unconventional childhood. At just eight years old, he ran away from home and joined the circus—yes, really. Over the next several years, he worked a variety of jobs, including mucking out elephant stalls, performing as a clown, eating fire, and swallowing swords. These early adventures sparked a lifelong love of animals—especially elephants—and shaped Mike into a natural entertainer and performer.

More than three years after running away, Mike returned home to West Virginia, where his mother introduced him to a neighbor who taught him how to restore carousel horses. This skill marked Mike’s transition from the circus world into the carnival world—a place where his creativity, craftsmanship, and joy for entertaining truly flourished.

At 17, Mike was drafted into the United States Army. After completing basic training, he was deployed to Korea for two years. During his service, he once again put his circus skills to use, dressing as a clown to perform for local children, handing out candy and food, and occasionally dazzling crowds with fire-eating performances.

In 1980, Mike met the love of his life, Susan (Sue) Huber, and just six months later, they were married. In 1982, their only child, Jessica Ray Huffman, was born. Together, the family owned and operated the children’s carnival Sue-Z-Q Rides and Expo for more than 15 years, bringing laughter and joy to thousands of children throughout the Las Vegas Valley.

For Mike, the carnival was never just a business—it was a way to give back. He regularly donated the carnival to schools, churches, and community organizations, believing every child deserved a chance to laugh, play, and feel special. One cause especially close to his heart was Kaleidoscope, a long-running drug-free carnival that provided a safe, joyful space for children and families year after year. In recognition of his generosity and service to the community, Mike was honored with keys to the city, an acknowledgment that deeply humbled him but made his family immensely proud.

Mike’s work as a welder was more than a career—it was another outlet for his creativity. The same hands that welded titanium at TIMET also turned metal into art. He anodized titanium plaques into vibrant, shifting colors and created folk art from scrap metal, welding discarded pieces into imaginative, playful shapes and designs. To Mike, nothing was ever just scrap; everything held the potential to become something joyful, useful, or beautiful.

Larger than life, Mike found his greatest happiness in making others smile. He told jokes to strangers, made goofy faces for kids, and had a rare gift for turning ordinary moments into lasting memories. He was well known at dozens of Henderson restaurants, grocery stores, and local businesses as “the man with the jokes,” someone who could brighten your day whether you asked for it or not. And if he left you with just one thing, it was usually a laugh—like his favorite joke: How do you fix a cracked tomato? Tomato paste. If you’re smiling—or groaning—he’d consider that a success.

Mike is survived by his wife, Susan Huber-Huffman; his daughter, Jessica Ray Huffman (Josh Abramowicz); his honorary daughter, Ann Seegopaul (Mahesh Seegopaul); and his two honorary grandsons, Amandeep and Arvind. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Huffman; his mother, Virginia Huffman (Ray); and four half-siblings.

Mike Huffman was one of a kind—a husband, a father, an artist, a welder, a clown, a carnie, and above all, a man who made the world brighter simply by being in it. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

In accordance with Mike’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. A time for family and friends to gather for dinner, stories, and plenty of jokes will be announced in the coming weeks.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Mike’s name may be made to the Henderson SPCA, honoring his lifelong love of animals.