James Michael Savage

James Michael “Mike” Savage of Hoover, Alabama, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 30, 2025. He was born in Nashville, Tennessee on January 13, 1948. After graduating from Two Rivers High School, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, where he served from 1967 through 1972. Following his honorable discharge, he went to work for BellSouth, ultimately retiring as a security manager in 2006.

Mike earned his private pilot’s license and worked as a flight instructor and commercial pilot as a hobby for many years. Weekends were often spent on the lake, at a soccer game, or in the air between the Bessemer and Shelby County airports. He repaired cars and boats, and even built a house in Greeneville, Tennessee, with his own two hands. He fully embraced the “do it yourself” attitude and never met a project that he would not take on. His children spent many hours holding flashlights and passing tools during oil changes and other jobs.

On October 23, 1992, Mike married the love of his life, Ellen. They spent thirty-two years together.

Mike is survived by his wife, Ellen; daughter, Meredith (Andrew) Brim; son, Brian (Ivy) Savage; stepdaughter, Laura Thorpe; stepson, Rob (Clara Wyatt) Thorpe; and grandchildren, Landon, Mason, Lexie, Jace, Charlotte, Laken, and Emily. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Monroe and Jean Helen Savage; his sister, Donna Savage; and his best furry friend, Sugar, a long-haired dachshund, who was undoubtedly the favorite child.

The gravesite committal service will be held at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 at Alabama National Cemetery, Montevallo.

Should friends desire, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Shelby County Humane Society.