Michael Edward Wyatt

A few miles North of Comfort, TX, by the banks of the Guadalupe River, there sits a handmade house on stilts. The same hands that built that house, etched into the walls a personal mantra (borrowed, with love, from the Beatles):

“And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make.”

Those were Michael Wyatt’s hands. Those calloused fingers were capable of more creativity, care, and compassion than most of us will ever experience. Those hands could shape planks of wood into monuments of form and function, paint scenes rich in depth and soul, and lift children to heights they could only dream of. As of July 29th, 2024, to the dismay of everyone who ever met him, those hands have finally found rest.

The legacies Mike leaves behind are too many to count. Of those, the most important to him was always his family: his wife, Melissa Burkholder Wyatt; son, Matthew Wyatt; daughter, Micaela Wyatt Berry; son-in-law, Ben Berry; and grandchildren, River Shumaker Wyatt (9), Finn Shumaker Wyatt (7), June Berry (3), and Nora Berry (1). Each of them now must go through life bearing the wound of his loss, but can do so thanks to the strength he imbued within them.

But the lives Michael touched extend far further than that. To his beloved brothers, David and Robert, who grew up with him. To the family of Dennis and Alyce Burkholder, who adopted him as their own. To the life-long friends he made at Robert E. Lee High School; the Sigma Nu fraternity at Southwest Texas State University; not to mention the many art classes, music lessons, jam sessions, and beyond.

To know Mike is to love him. His charismatic demeanor and infectious laugh won him admiration and esteem from every person in every room he ever set foot in. To say “he will be missed” does not do justice to the many souls who will mourn his loss from this day forward.

A celebration of Michael’s life will be held at The Cove on Monday, August 5th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm. We expect the event to be as boisterous and full of joy as Mike’s own heart. Mike was a casual person by nature, so we invite you to come as you are and not stress over the question of appropriate attire.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, please see below links to various organizations addressing various causes Mike felt strongly about. A donation in his name, to honor his memory, would be appreciated.

• 4Ocean: https://www.4oceanfoundation.org/• Music Will: https://musicwill.org/donate/• Voter Participation Center: https://www.voterparticipation.org/