John ("Mike") Michael McKinzie

Born in Bonham, Texas, to John and Laverne McKinzie, Mike lived a full and joyful life. He was the oldest of four, with two brothers, Bob and Steve, all three boys doting on their baby sister, Peggy. Mike attended the University of Texas in Austin and played trumpet for the Longhorn marching band, leading to a lifelong love of music (and UT football). Following his service in the Air Force, he completed his college education as one of the first to earn a degree in computer science at Southwest Texas State University.

He worked hard, but Mike prioritized a well-rounded life, cherishing time spent with his family, hobbies, and passions. He married Faye Lynn Lieck in 1966 and their first daughter, Tanya, was born in 1968, with Tamara arriving in 1977. He never missed an opportunity to take his daughters out on the sailboat or see them participate in their own activities. When his grandchildren came along, Granddad was a favorite playmate, on the floor with cars, legos, video games, and sometimes a dollhouse. In time to himself, he could typically be found on the lake, praying for wind; in the garage, tinkering with one of his many clocks or sanding down his most recent woodworking project; losing track of time in front of his flight simulator; or complaining about the Astros’ bullpen.

Mike will be sorely missed by his wife and best friend, Faye McKinzie, his daughters, Tanya McKinzie (with her fiancé Clint) and Tamara McKinzie-Ortega (with her husband Ruben), his grandchildren Michael Mizler (with his wife Ashley), Brendan Mizler, Elisa Ortega, Matthew Ortega, Meagan Ruen, and Luke Ortega, and his great-grandson, Hudson Mizler.