Gordon Michael "Mike" Christopher

1955 - 2022

DALLAS, TEXAS AT 09:03 PM - Gordon "Mike" Christopher, aged 67, passed from this life on Saturday, June 25, 2022, in Dallas, Texas, after fighting a long hard battle with brain cancer. He was born on May 17, 1955, to Johnna and Gordon Christopher in Seminole, Texas.

Mike went to Odessa College and shortly after that he met his first wife, Belinda. They had a daughter, Heather DeArman, and two years later, a son, Chase Christopher.

Mike soon went to work for the family business, Christopher Manufacturing Company. He learned the business from the ground up, all while working alongside his brother Mitchel and father, Gordon Christopher. During this time, he met and married his second wife, Debbie, and together they had a son, John Michael Christopher. It wasn't too long after that, the oil industry experienced the great bust in the 80's. During this difficult time, the family business was shut down. Mike shortly after found the career for which he had been searching. He went to work for Phillips 66. He remained with Phillips for 27 years and then retired with DCP Midstream. He held many positions within the company. He then went to work with his son, John Michael at Christopher Oil Tools. Mike helped his son grow the company and then retired once again. He was very proud of his accomplishments and was always the first one willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it.

The only thing that kept Mike going, besides his family, was his zeal and passion for life. While working on location in Del Rio, Texas, he discovered Devil's River. To Mike it was one of the most beautiful places in the world! He was already an avid scuba diver and, after finding the river, he took up spearfishing, something he would pass on to his son, John Michael. Mike also had a memorable love for reptiles. He found himself working the famous Rattlesnake Roundup in Sweetwater, Texas and doing shows and milking the venom from the snakes. His next greatest passion was skydiving! He was very involved in the drop zone, Eagle's Nest, south of Odessa. Mike jumped most weekends at Eagle's Nest. He was an avid skydiver and bungie jumper for every bit of twenty years. Soon the itch for adventure was back and Mike chose to delve into the world of motorcycles. He was always testing the limits of this world and looking for his next great adventure. The edge of the world is where he preferred to be.

The most important thing in the world to Mike was his family. His mother Johnna Christopher held a very special place in his heart. They spoke on the phone every single day at eleven AM and she was listed as "Mommy" in his cell until the day he passed. To his siblings, Billie and Mitch, he was invincible and the big brother you could always rely on. He had three of the luckiest children in the world and he spent as much time as he could with them. He passed his love for life and family on to each of us. He will forever be a huge part of who all of us are.

Mike battled a very rare form of brain cancer for almost two years and fought with everything in him. His family stood by his side every step of the long-fought battle. Mike's son in law, Matt, helped all of us through the last few years. He instantly became another son in Mike's eyes and another brother to John Michael and Chase.

Mike is preceded in death by his father Gordon Christopher. He is survived by his mother Johnna Christopher, sister Billie Hoestenbach and husband John Hoestenbach, and brother Mitchel Christopher. He leaves behind three children Heather DeArman and husband Matt DeArman, Michael Chase Christopher, and John Michael Christopher and wife Emerald Christopher. Mike was a proud papaw to ten grandchildren Grace Hughes, Ashton Orozco, Evelyn Orozco, Israel Orozco, Presley Christopher, Jax Christopher, Cooper Christopher, Wyatt Christopher, Avery DeArman, Christian DeArman and one great granddaughter Clementine Orozco. He also leaves behind his beloved Goddaughter and niece Cozy Christopher and her children, whom he loved so much.

Mike was a genuinely heartfelt and independent individual who held a strong love for life. We will miss you, Dad, with all our hearts. Until we see you again, Fly High, Pops. We love you so much.

Celebration of life with friends and family will be August 13, 2022, at 3pm in Odessa Tx at the home of his son John Michael, 6521 Piedmont St. Please come with a smile, for the life he led was nothing but exciting.