Mr. Michael John Ewing

Mike Ewing was born in Kirksville Missouri to Ann Dunbar Ewing and Robert Paul Ewing. He spent his childhood in Park Ridge, Illinois with his older brother Bobby and little sister, Patty. He was a gifted athlete, playing little league baseball, football as a split end during high school and slow-pitch softball in the summers.
After high school he attended Drake University where he was a mathematics major and a proud member of the Alpa Tau Omega fraternity, known to his brothers as "Big E".
He met his wife of 55 years, Debra, at Drake and it was love at first sight. Deb never knew where they were going on Friday and Saturday nights, but she knew he'd be there each weekend to take her out on a date. He proposed to her under an oak tree in front of the Drake library in 1970, and they were married shortly after.
Mike and Debbie welcomed their first son, Jason to the world on a cold, winter day in December of 1970 and proudly brought him home tucked in a Christmas stocking. John completed the family in 1975 and Mike and Debbie called Park Ridge home for a time.
Mike graduated from Northwestern University in 1977 with an MBA and a few years later, in 1980 he loaded up the family and moved to Roswell, GA for fairer weather. He eventually started his own company, Southeastern Erecting, where he boasted successful erections for 10 years. After he sold his company, he worked as a project manager helping the City of Atlanta rehab it's stormwater system. Mike officially retired in 2005 and began to take very seriously, the task of monitoring Fox News with a glass of Chardonnay.
Mike was known for his infectious (if silent) laugh, his sniper-like skills with a water balloon, his ability to mispronounce words earning him the nickname, "Mumbles", and his love of cars. No one raced and pampered a 442 like Mike and BMWs were the only way to go later in life. He was a proud marbles champion and was always up for the card game Blitz with the family. He loved music and Debbie would often find him, late at night, sitting with a friend listening to an amazing piece of music like Phantom of the Opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, or The Beatles at full blast. Despite not being a native of Georgia, he loved his Georgia Bulldogs with a great enthusiasm and cheered them on every game day! He was so proud when Nora and Keppy made Athens their college home and donned the Red and Black.
While he would likely not win an attendance award at church, Mike had a deep and intimate relationship with Christ and a spirituality that is to be admired. He was very involved with Young Life, where he received a hardback copy of the New Testament that has been on his bedside table every day since. The front and back covers are no longer attached, held together with a rubber band, and it's full of Mike's reflections and thoughts on God. He carried with him a sense of peace knowing that Jesus held him in his palm, and that all would be well because of his love for and trust in Christ.
His greatest accomplishment by far, was his family. He was completely devoted to Deb, often saying he loved her more than she loved him. Their marriage of 55 years is one to be admired. He was infinitely proud of his sons and absolutely smitten with his granddaughters: Nora (20), Keppy (18) and Mallie (16). He was happiest with the whole family around the dinner table where every blessing he offered was the same: "I love life because of Jesus. Thank you, God". When you squeezed a hand and looked up, Mike would have tears in his eyes, his heart was so full. He never passed up an opportunity to be proud of his boys, and he rarely missed one of his granddaughter's preschool performances, horse shows or lacrosse games.
He leaves behind a loving family and a deep network of friends who traveled life's ups and downs alongside him, always loving and supporting him and Deb. He would want everyone to find joy in the simple things, cling tight to your family and friends, and never pass up an opportunity to make someone laugh.
In lieu of flowers, Mike would love a donation in his honor to Tunnels to Towers, a non-profit dedicated to helping veterans and first responders. https://t2t.org/