Harlan Charles Michael

Harlan Charles Michael was born on April 1, 1934 to Charles Oliver Michael and Agnes Vance Michael on a farm in Alliance, Nebraska. The family moved to Hastings, Nebraska where he attended and graduated from Saint Cecilia High School. He attended Hastings College, in Nebraska, and completed his education in Denver, Colorado at Regis Business College. In 1954 he enlisted in The United States Army, where he was deployed to Korea, where he served for two years as a radio operator.

After his service, he met Colleen Herndon while they both were working at a bank in Denver. The couple welcomed their first daughter, Cynthia and then moved to Midland, Texas where Harlan took a position at First National Bank. Their daughter, Theresa, completed their family of four. Harlan went on to become the Vice President of First National Bank and later the Executive Vice President of Western State Bank, where he also served on the Board of Directors. He continued his education at the National Lending School of Oklahoma and was the President of the Permian Chapter of the American Institute of Banking. He also was Regional President of Installment Lending and served in different capacities for United Way, NMCR, Optimal Junior Achievement and Toastmasters. However, one of his greatest achievements was being grandfather to eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He loved fishing, especiallyfly fishing at his riverside cabin in Lake City, Colorado where multiple generations of the extensive family members, spent wonderful summers vacationing together. There was nothing he loved more than seeing his large family together.

He is preceded in death by: his parents; his brother, Phillip; his sister, Sharon who died as an infant; his older sister, Marianne, who recently passed and whom Harlan missed terribly. Also preceding him in death were his niece Jenny Lee Byers; nephew Patrick Lee, and great-granddaughter Eloise Horton.

He is survived by his ex-wife, Colleen; his two daughters, Cynthia and husband Greg Midkiff and Theresa and husband John (Gator) Hillman; brother Pat Michael, wife Carol, and their three sons, Chris, Jamie and Brian, and their families; his brother-in-law, Ray Lee, and children Michael, and Jane and their families; his adored grandchildren, Michael Midkiff and fiancé, ML, of Midland; Matthew Midkiff and wife, Courtney of Fort Worth; Nathan Midkiff and fiancé, Taryn, of Boston; Preston Midkiff and wife Jennifer, of Houston; Elizabeth Midkiff of Midland; Allyse Horton and husband Robert; Mollye Plagens and husband Drew, and John Michael Hillman, all of Midland and by his great-grandchildren, Andrew, Mary Emma, and Grace Horton, and Mason Midkiff.

Rosary will be held at 4pm Sunday, July 31st at Ellis Funeral Home, Midland, Texas. The funeral service will be held at 11am Monday, August 1st at Saint Ann’s Catholic Church, in Midland, Texas with Monsignor Larry Droll officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to High Sky Children’s Ranch at http://highsky.org/donate.html or to the Wounded Warrior Project at P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.