Michael Randall "Mike" Shockley

Michael "Mike" Randall Shockley 83, of Lufkin, Texas, took his first celestial breath on the morning of Saturday, February 8, 2025, after battling dementia for several years. A locomotive engineer, accomplished musician, devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Mike was surrounded by family in his final moments of life. Graveside services for Mike will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025 (his 84th birthday) at 1:30 pm at White house Cemetery, with his son, Dr. Paul R. Shockley, officiating. Mike was a U.S. Air Force Veteran (1963-1969) and member of the Texas Masonic Lodge 669 A.F. & A.M. since 1971.
The only son among three dynamic, gifted sisters, Mike was born on February 16, in Bonham, Texas to the late Paul Shockley and Grace Marion Newton. Raised in El Paso, Texas, Mike developed the character traits of a West Texas cowboy early in his life and mastered gun sportsmanship, fishing, and other skills like welding.
He was employed by Southern Pacific Railroad as a locomotive engineer (1959-1998) and was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers (1959-1967) as well as the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (1968-).
Mike, with red curly hair, possessed several great loves. Among them were country music, his late wife Pat (1967- 2017), his girlfriend Diane Jones (2018 – 2025), gun sportsmanship, and loyal support of his sons and family.
Mike loved country music with a particular affection for country swing. At an early age, he developed a talent for music and started learning, singing, and playing the acoustic bass, electric bass, and pedal steel guitar beginning at the age of five. His parents and sisters were all musically gifted. He left El Paso and began playing music on the road, particularly historic Route 66, performing live music. Mike played with many of the biggest names in country music, including Tammy Wynette, Glen Campbell, George Jones, and Willie Nelson. He also played music with Tina Turner and other popular acts. Locally, he was a part of several bands for many years including Murphy's Law (along with childhood friend Jim Reese) and Glenn Lenderman and the Hillbilly Band. Through those experiences and the life of a Southern Pacific Railroad engineer, he made lifelong friends.
From 1963-1969, he served in the United States Air Force. The Air Force sent him on a journey to Western Europe where he served as an X-ray technician for airplanes. When he was fortunate to have free time, he and other members of his band introduced live country music to innumerable Europeans. Moreover, he taught two of his grandsons, Schaeffer Wesley and Seth Michael how to play music and shoot guns.
In 1967 he married "Pat" Patricia Cora Smith, eloping from El Paso to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Pat, who was born and raised in El Paso, was the daughter of a World War II Army veteran who served at Pearl Harbor when it was attacked. Mike was a romantic, exemplifying marital "oneness" through the good, the bad, and the ugly of life. They experienced the loss of fraternal twins in 1968 while living in Wichita Falls, Texas. In 1988 they experienced the tragic death of their youngest son, Jimmy Shockley (age of 17). Earlier that the same year their own fathers unexpectedly passed away. Mike and Pat supported each other, often traveling to the Netherlands, loving on their four grandchildren, and supporting veterans and the rights of Israel and the Jewish people.
Two of Mike's greatest moments of pride were seeing his son Paul graduate with his Ph.D. from Texas A&M University and witnessing his grandson Spencer Paul, who is now a First Lieutenant stationed at Fort Cabazos (formerly Fort Hood), receive an officer commission in the US Army in view of the training received at Stephen F. Austin State University's ROTC program.
In their later years of life, Mike served as Pat's primary caregiver as they walked through her battle with dementia. After the loss of Pat in 2017, he experienced a new love with rancher Diane Jones and a former rodeo queen, a long-time family friend and widow. They experienced the joy of new romance and genuine love.
Lastly, Mike was an avid pistol shooter, competitor, and advocate of the Second Amendment. He was President of the Angelina Rifle & Pistol Club in Lufkin, Texas (2000-2004); Life Member of the Texas State Rifle Association; Outdoor Pistol Director on the board of directors (2002-2005).
In Spring 2023, Mike moved to Timpson to be cared for by his son and son's spouse given his own battle with Alzheimer/vascular dementia. As symptoms advanced, he received excellent care from Heart-to-Heart Hospice and Garrison Nursing Home in Garrison, Texas.
Mike Shockley is preceded in death by Paul and Grace Shockley of El Paso (parents); siblings Joan Cunningham of Montgomery, Alabama, and Jannette Leta Ferguson of El Paso; children Michael and Micheal Shockley (fraternal twins) of Wichita Falls, Tx (August 1968), and James "Jimmy" Wesley Shockley (1971-1988).
Mike is survived by his sister Iris Reed of Anthony, New Mexico; son Dr. Paul R. Shockley (caregiver); son-in-law Dr. Raul F. Prezas (caregiver); grandson Schaeffer Wesley Shockley (Corrie); grandson Spencer Paul Shockley (Isabella); grandson Seth Michael Shockley; grand-daughter Julianna Grace Hoover (Peyton); girlfriend Diane Jones (caregiver) and family; and a number of nieces and nephews. Mike's first great-grandson is expected in March 2025.
Pallbearers will be Schaeffer Wesley Shockley, Spencer Paul Shockley, Seth Michael Shockley, Glenn Lenderman, Chris Powell, and Curtis Wise.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jerry Bright, Googie Dirmeyer, Dr. Raul R. Prezas, Frank Shockley, Jessie Wheless, and Joel Yeates.
Honorary Pallbearers in Memory are Jack Cunningham, Jack Featherston, James Jones, Jimmy Miller, Walter Ogden, and Jim Reese.
In lieu of flowers, special memorials may be made to Lufkin Memorial VFW Post 1836 and Auxiliary, 1800 Ford Chapel Rd., Lufkin, Texas 75901.
A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025, at The Shockley residence, 553 N. 2nd St., Timpson, Texas 75975.
Shafer Funeral Home, Lufkin directors.
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