MICHAEL LONERGAN

January 5, 1947 - August 7, 2017 MIDWEST CITY Dr. J. Michael Lonergan, 70, to some known as "Dr. Mike" or "Doc," went to be with the Lord Aug. 7, 2017. Born on Jan. 5, 1947, in Oklahoma City, he was raised with a strong sense of religion, family, and education. He took those values and became an Eagle Scout and a member of the Order of the Arrow early in life. He then graduated with honors and as an AAU swim champion from Midwest City High School. He went on to start his college career at The University of Oklahoma with an athletic scholarship. He moved on to finish his college career at the University of Dallas and University of Texas Medical School in San Antonio. After graduation, he moved to Cleveland, OH to begin practicing medicine and is where he would finish his first of many medical residencies and fellowship trainings. He went on to achieve five board certifications and sub-specialties - Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Intensive Care, Anesthesiology, and Hyperbaric medicine. During this time, he also taught medical students and authored and co-authored many medical research papers. Later in life, he became a member of the Ohio National Guard as well as the West Virginia National Guard as a battalion surgeon, where he reached the rank of lieutenant colonel and proudly completed Airborne School at the age of 49. Following his time spent in Ohio, he again felt the calling to teach and moved to St. Eustatius, Dutch Caribbean, where he was on faculty and taught several classes, including pharmacology at the University of St. Eustatius School of Medicine. He returned stateside to in order to help care for his sister, Pat, and decided to stay. Upon settling in and opening a practice in Weatherford, OK, he continued helping those in the state he called home. He also followed his instilled values of giving back and being of service. Doc always considered himself a student, and followed the beliefs of God, Family and Country in everyday life. His primary medical practice in Oklahoma grew by using the pharmacology knowledge he gained throughout his career to treat patients with chronic pain. He loved Jesus, hearing and telling stories, flying, swimming, chili, watching movies, "cussing and discussing" politics, reading, Dr. Pepper, and practicing medicine, but his proudest accomplishment of his life were his three children, Molly Marie, Robert Connor, and Mary Katherine, and his greatest love was for his family. Doc would ask those to please not cry for him but instead celebrate his life with stories, prayers and laughter because he just beat us all to a better place. In following with the values taught by his parents, his family is asking for donations to his grandchildren's education in lieu of flowers. Being a father and grandfather, Mike was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Patricia Lonergan-Russell. Survivors include his children, Molly Vorous (James), R. Connor Lonergan, and Mary Holt; grandchildren, Grace and Caitlin Vorous; siblings, Anne Metz (Robin), and Laurie Stanford (Rick); nieces/nephews, Jon Metz, Dylan Metz, Jessica Tucker (Russell), Josh Standford, Luke Stanford (Tara), and Eileen Lonergan; and sister-in-law, Sherry Hayden. His family will receive friends Thursday, Aug. 17, 1-4 p.m. at Bill Eisenhour Funeral Home, 8805 N.E. 23rd St., Oklahoma City, 73141, followed by a Rosary service at 7 p.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 3901 S.W. 29th St., Oklahoma City, 73119. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 18 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with interment to follow at Arlington Memory Gardens. Condolences may be offered at www.eisenhourfuneralhome.com