Michael R. Deeds

Michael R. Deeds, Phoenix, AZ, formerly of Southern California passed away Sunday, May 20th with his family and friends by his side after a courageous battle with lung disease followed by cancer. Mike was born March 26, 1942, in Portland, OR to Raymond and Eleanor Powers Deeds. The oldest of four children, he grew up in Southern California with his siblings, Martha, Thomas and David. By the age of eleven, Mike was already working, helping his father build houses. He attended St. Rose of Lima Catholic School where he served as an altar boy followed by St. Francis Seminary, a preparatory school for the priesthood. After three years and the recognition of his love for girls, he left and subsequently graduated from Hilltop High School in 1960. At 18, Mike enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the Special Forces Unit. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam and was the recipient of a bronze star. He had over five hundred parachute jumps before leaving the Army in 1968. After his military service, Mike's began his career in outdoor advertising. Over the next several years, Mike's family grew with two step-children Michael and Sally and his son, James. In 1976 Mike was named Operations Coordinator in the San Diego branch of Pacific Outdoor, a position he held until 1991.when heaccepted the position of Branch Operations Manager in Los Angeles for Patrick Media which would eventually become ClearChannel Outdoor.In 1996, Mike moved to Phoenix where he began working at the corporate headquarters as Executive Vice-President of Operations.Mike served on numerous industry-operations committees as either a member or adviser. He was recognized as one of the nation's foremost experts in outdoor operations and in 2005 was inducted into the Outdoor Advertising Association of America's Hall of Fame. In 2006 Mike married Lori Foxen in Hawaii, and Mike gained two stepdaughters and a step grandson. Mike fought hard like every other time in his life; he didn't want to leave, especially his beloved wife. He still had so much living to do with Lori. Mike was a self-educated, self-made man. He had a work ethic developed by the many years in Catholic School and the Army. He was tough, worked hard, never made excuses and expected the same from his co-workers. Mike was also tender and thoughtful. He nurtured friendships well and enjoyed time spent with little children.Throughout his life Mike enjoyed shooting, sporting clays and won numerous tournaments in his class. He passed his love of the sport on to his grandson, Nic. Mike also enjoyed classic cars. Mike is survived by his wife, Lori; his children and step children, Sigrid Fuentes and James Deeds, Mike Horner and wife Jean, Stephanie and Shannon Foxen; his grandchildren Andrea and Nicholas Fuentes, Shane Foxen and a baby granddaughter due very soon; his siblings Martha Manning, Thomas Deeds and David Deeds and his in-laws Stan and Judy Waugh, Kimberly and David Boston and Tammy and Troy Colgrove. His family and his wife Lori will carry on his spirit; it's very hard to ever forget a man bigger than life, a man like Mike Deeds "Goodnight Big Daddy". Services will be held at Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 30th. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to The American Lung Association of Arizona, Phoenix Children's Hospital and the Arizona Animal Welfare League. Mike's memorial website is http://michael-deeds.memory-of.com