Michael David Eastham

Michael David Eastham, age 74 of Temple, died Tuesday, July 4, 2017 at a local care center. Memorial services will be held at Trinity Church, 7701 W. Adams Avenue, Temple, Texas 76502 at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 11th with Rev. Ed Dowell officiating. Private family burial was held at Hillcrest Cemetery. Mr. Eastham was born on November 1, 1942 in Wellington, Kansas to the late Carmel Eastham and Helen Highfill Eastham, but spent his formative years growing up in Clovis, New Mexico. He attended college in Topeka, Kansas. Mike was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1960 and served during the Vietnam War in Okinawa and was honorably discharged in 1964. On December 30, 1967, he married Irene Mazas in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 1968, they moved to Temple so he could participate in the first pilot program of the simulator class ever used by the Santa Fe Railroad to train engineers. He graduated in 1970 and because this program was so successful, they have continued using it to train engineers in 6 weeks instead of the previous training that took 3 years to complete. He retired in 2004 after 42 years of service with the railroad. Mr. Eastham started Mike’s Lawn Mowing Service in 1984. He was an active member at Trinity Church. Mike was a generous, kindhearted man with a great sense of humor who loved the Lord and his family and friends. He had a passion for the Dallas Cowboys and Texas A&M. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Irene Eastham of Temple; four daughters, Christy Eastham Kianes and husband Luis of Temple, Vicky Waneck of Temple, Jamie Cruz-Solano and husband Ray of Denver, Colorado and Stephanie Lawhorn and husband Russell, also of Temple; three grandchildren, Ashton Waneck, Tyler Lawhorn and Bryson Lawhorn. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Kindred Hospice, 2626-B S. 37th Street, Temple, Texas 76504 or to the charity of your choice. Honorary pallbearers will be Rob Lacann, Mike Swearangin, Robert Kerbo, Sr., B.B. Dowell, Anton Bravenec, Don Flores, Buddy Stewart, Jim Batey, Jack Hobday and Juan Bustos.