David Michael Leaverton

Michael Leaverton was a Lubbock boy through and through. He was born in the "Hub City" to Herbert Walker Leaverton and Ann Patricia Kane Gaignat on August 31,1952, which is the same birth date as his grandfather, David Nunn Leaverton. Michael peacefully passed into the loving arms of Jesus on June 17, 2025. He is now walking arm-in-arm with his Savior and with those he loved in this life who passed before him.
He attended Rush Elementary, Mackenzie Jr. High, and Coronado High School where he played football and made many lifelong friends. Michael was a 1970 graduate of CHS and subsequently went to Texas Tech, which was just down the road from his home. At Tech, he joined Phi Delta Theta in 1971 and became a part of the Phi Delt Leaverton men: his father Herb, his older brother Mark, and his younger brother Clay. He decided after a year of college that he wasn't ready for academics, so he moved to Ruidoso, NM, for a couple of ski seasons to work in the Ski Apache kitchen flipping burgers and making onion rings. When his shift was over, he grabbed his skis and enjoyed the slopes until they closed. For the two summer seasons that followed, he came home to work on his '63 Chevy Corvette. He tackled this project by completely disassembling and reassembling the engine without the help of a manual or YouTube!
Michael started his construction career in 1973 as a laborer working in New Mexico and Arkansas building apartments. He steadily took on more responsibility until he achieved the position of Construction Superintendent for a homebuilder in Dallas.
After working hard in the construction business, he decided that it was time to reacquaint himself with academia. In 1980 he enrolled in Texas State Technical College in Waco. He later graduated with an Associates Degree in Building Construction Technology with a perfect 4.0 GPA. As a result, his professors strongly encouraged him to pursue further education, which he did at Texas A&M, graduating Magna Cum Laude, in 1984, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering.
He found work as a Staff Engineer for Woodward-Clyde Consultants in San Jose, CA, designing earthquake-proof foundations for large buildings. After 3 years, he pursued a Master of Science degree at the University of California at Berkeley in Civil Engineering, graduating in 1989. He then joined Kaldveer Associates, in Oakland, CA, as a Project Engineer specializing in the geotechnical aspect of construction projects. During his time at Kaldveer, he earned the designation, Licensed Professional Engineer (PE) - Civil Engineering.
In Oakland, he experienced first-hand what a California earthquake was all about. One of the largest earthquakes in California history occurred in the area in 1989. Michael was in his office parking lot when the quake hit. It pancaked the elevated freeway adjacent to his office building. That event encouraged him to consider a quick return to Texas!
Upon his return to the Lone Star State, he began working for the Waste Management Companies in 1992 as a project engineer and construction manager, primarily in North Texas. Later, he also worked for them in the position of environmental engineer.
For six years, beginning in 1996, he worked as a private contractor and construction manager on projects in Tyler and Plano. Once these projects were completed, he moved back to Lubbock.
Once in Lubbock, he had the opportunity to work for Texas Tech University in the Civil Engineering department as a Senior Research Associate. He conducted research for the Texas Department of Transportation. Most of this work took place off-campus, in the field, and on the road throughout just about every part of Texas.
He was later presented with the opportunity to teach some courses at Texas Tech. He had not taught before or even stood in front of a class, but he bravely decided to accept the offer. Afterward, he admitted to being quite jittery facing his first class of seventy students. Through this experience, Michael discovered his passion for teaching college students, and he went on to teach several additional courses. His vast work experience and engineering expertise contributed immeasurably to his student's classroom experience. Outside the classroom, Michael loved connecting with his students through conversations, pep talks, and mentoring sessions. He also greatly enjoyed the relationships he developed with his coworkers. After 10 years working at Texas Tech, encouraging and guiding students, Michael retired.
Michael was so loved by all who knew him. His quiet countenance made him a good listener. He loved having long conversations face-to-face and over the phone with friends, students, and family. Michael was always open and accessible to anyone he came across in his life. To know Michael was to love him!
Michael was a gentle man who loved learning more about his Father in Heaven ever since he gave his life to Christ in 1972 with the help and encouragement of his brother Clay.
He loved his brothers Mark and Clay, their wives and their children, and his sister Dawn and her son. Michael so enjoyed attending ball games, concerts, and other special events for his 7 nieces and nephews.
Michael was predeceased by his mother, father, and sister. He is survived by his brother Mark and his wife, Vicki and their two children, David and Lindsey; his brother Clay and his wife, Wally and their 4 children, Analee, Madison, Matthew, and Sarah Jane; and Dawn's husband, Gaylord O'Con, and Dawn's son, Cary Francis, as well as numerous cousins and dear friends.
When we think back on Michael's life, the primary thing we remember about this wonderful man is his strong faith in God. He loved to read the Bible and listen to his favorite Christian teachers and preachers. His home was always full of old tapes of those broadcasts which he watched repeatedly, and he enjoyed sharing what he learned with others. Michael's relationship with his Savior, Jesus, is what truly defined him. We shall all miss him greatly.
Memorials may be made to the Texas Girls & Boys Ranch in Lubbock at txgbr.org.
A memorial service will be held in the chapel at Sanders Funeral Home located at 1420 Main St. in Lubbock on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.