Michael Anthony Garza

Born to Al and Rose Lee Backus Garza on May 15, 1966, Michael graduated from Marshall High School in the Northside Independent School District in San Antonio in 1984. He earned his bachelor’s degrees in business and computer science from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. He attended seminary in Pennsylvania and earned a master’s in psychotherapy from Texas A&M University San Antonio in 2013.

Michael was a corporate executive for AT&T in Texas, New Jersey, Alaska, and Pennsylvania. He served on the pastoral staffs of the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and Community Bible Church in San Antonio and Cross Mountain Church in Leon Springs. He also served as a consultant for a faith-based adoption agency in the Northeast.

Michael married Dr. Linda Lee (Lynn) Smith Shedd on January 4, 2013, in Comfort, Texas and gratefully assumed the role of stepfather to Linda Lee’s four children—Ella, Davis, Ethan, and Daniel Shedd. He told his mother, “Lynn will be my wife” the night he met her. He and Lynn and their children attended Cross Mountain Church and Mission City Church in Leon Springs. Other than family, Michael loved spending time gardening and maintaining his koi pond and tropical fish aquariums. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan, a fishing enthusiast, and a lover of coastlines, state parks, and camping. He and Lynn often retreated to the Padre Island National Seashore to appreciate the majesty of God’s creation. He adored his African Gray parrots, Lewis and Lola; his dogs, Brindle and Cousteau; and his cat, Rex.

Michael is survived by his wife, Dr. Linda Lee Garza of San Antonio; four children: Ella, Davis, Ethan, and Daniel Shedd; his mother, Rose Lee Backus Garza of San Antonio; two sisters: Pat Wagoner of San Antonio and Norma Zoda of Austin; three brothers-in-law: Jay Wagoner of San Antonio, Dr. Tom Zoda of Austin, and Dr. Lane Smith of San Antonio; three nieces: Alexa Wagoner, Madison Wagoner, and McKenna Taylor of San Antonio; one nephew: Braden Smith of San Antonio; four uncles: Bill Backus of Medina, Texas; UJ Backus of Austin; Ernest Garza and Robert Garza of San Antonio; his mother-in-law, Linda Brooks Davis of San Antonio; and his father-in-law: Al Davis of San Antonio; a wide range of extended family members and many friends.

Michael was a Christian in the truest sense and died with the name of Jesus on his lips. He was the most devoted of husbands and fathers and a sterling example of Christian servanthood. He dedicated his life to shepherding, pastoring, and counseling others and is irreplaceable to his family and those who knew and loved him. His words of wisdom, love, and faith will ring in his family’s ears into eternity.

A private memorial service will be held at Mission City Church in Leon Springs on April 16, 2021. In lieu of flowers, friends and family may honor Michael’s memory through donations to Arms of Hope, a not-for-profit Christian care organization that assists children and single-mother families in need (https://armsofhope.org).