Michael Wesley Carnes

1942-2016

If you wanted to build a team, learn how to run a marathon, sell a new product, raise funds for a worthy cause, work with a coach or mentor to help you with most any aspect of life - and do it all with a good laugh -- Michael Wesley Carnes was the guy to have around.

He went to be with his heavenly father on Tuesday, the twelfth of April 2016 in Fredericksburg, Texas.

Born March 17, 1942 to Frank Wesley and Lucille Carnes in Los Angeles, Mike was a natural athlete who played on the high school baseball team and worked throughout college teaching others to play golf at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course in South Pasadena, California. He graduated from California State University Northridge in 1964 - a year after marrying Nancy Strough, his high-school sweetheart. He first met Nancy in a ballroom dance class at age 12 and soon became smitten. It took him several years to finally ask her out on a date, but Mike and Nancy's love story and friendship have been greatly admired over the years by all who have known them.

In 1965, he began his 42-year career in sales as a trainee with the major valve manufacturer Hills-McCanna Co., beginning a journey that would take Mike and his family from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Chicago, and ultimately, Texas.

With a talent for coaching and mentoring sales personnel, Mike was promoted to sales manager before moving to corporate headquarters outside Chicago. In 1975, he became Gulf Coast regional sales manager and moved his family to Kingwood, Texas, a small suburb of Houston that was then considered "country" and afforded lots of opportunities for outdoor fun, including fishing and breakfast cooked outdoors on the park grill at River Grove Park on Lake Houston.

Mike was a charter member of the Kingwood Country Club and started his children, John and Lisa, in the sport of golf at an early age, encouraging them in local tournaments and on their high school golf teams. He also made time to coach their baseball and softball teams, and was the dad who always added a note of levity to their games. His antics and raucous cheerleading are still remembered by parents, teammates and friends attending the kids sporting events.

Mike was recruited by Grant Supply Company to serve as their Houston sales manager in 1976, and advanced to vice president of sales. Traveling extensively, he built strong relationships with employees, customers, and manufacturers wherever he went. He completed his career in 2007 as Southwest Regional Vice President for McJunkin, which acquired Grant Supply in 1987. His unique coaching and leadership capabilities ensured a legacy of delivering world-class value to customers, but his co-workers said what they would miss most were Mike's smiles, laughter and humorous pranks that kept life in perspective in the midst of the serious workday.

Becoming a grandparent was something that Mike relished and first became known as Papa in 1988 with the birth of Brianna, his princess, followed by Lindsey, Luke and Eric. He was always engaged with his grandchildren and continued the kind of support he had always shown John and Lisa by attending Brianna's dance recitals and taking Lindsey to her favorite place in the world, Camp for All. He delighted in taking Luke on tractor rides on the ranch and listening to Eric play his guitar.

One of Mike's greatest pleasures in life was helping others to succeed. He was an avid marathon runner who competed at the highest level. He began his running career in the early 1980's and continued on to the senior circuit becoming a nationally ranked Senior Grand Master. He ran the New York, Boston, Chicago, Houston, and Marine Corps Marathon in Arlington and many others with his wife Nancy traveling with him and cheering him along every mile he ran. True to his nature, he coached fellow runners long after his marathon days were over. One of his joys was meeting weekly in Kerrville for breakfast with a group of close friends that shared his passion for running.

Mike and Nancy moved in 2007 to Fredericksburg, Texas, where they built their family ranch home and were able to enjoy extended travels in their motor coach. Mike co-founded and served as President of Country Coach Texans, a chapter of the Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA). He enjoyed organizing their many rallies and making friends wherever he and Nancy visited across the country.

During his time in Fredericksburg he served on the board as a President of The 100 Club of Gillespie County, which provides financial support for the dependents of firefighters and law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

Mike was known for his generosity, positive attitude, wisdom, business acumen and fun-loving spirit. He was a friend to many and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Nancy Strough Carnes, their son, John and daughter Lisa Carnes Dempsey and husband Robert of Kingwood, Texas; grandchildren Luke, Lindsey, Eric, Brianna and her husband Matthew Lum. He was preceded in death by his parents; Frank and Lucille Carnes.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held for family and friends at two o'clock in the afternoon on Saturday, April 30 at the Carnes Family Ranch in Fredericksburg, Texas with a reception following. We invite all who knew Mike to share their condolences, thoughts and memories at www.mikecarneslegacy.com.

In lieu of customary remembrances the family requests with gratitude that contributions in memory of Michael Carnes be directed to The 100 Club of Gillespie County or Camp for All. Information on both organizations and how to contribute may be found on www.mikecarneslegacy.com.