Michael Leroy "Mike" Mobley

Michael Leroy "Mike" Mobley, 78, died last week at his home and farm site in Sonora, from complications caused by chronic health problems.

Mike grew up during the 1950s and 1960s on the Mobley family dairy/beef/hog farm, five miles west of Elizabethtown off St. John Road. He learned at a very young age to drive all their farm trucks and tractors, especially the huge 1930s-era McCormick-Dearing W-30 International tractor, which is carefully stored on Mike's Sonora farm today.

Following in the footsteps of his sister and four brothers, Mike attended Rineyville Elementary and High School through ninth grade. When the county high schools were consolidated in 1961, he attended West Hardin High School. He quickly made many new friends from Lynnvale and Howevalley and graduated in the Class of 1965. He was a regular attendee at their annual class reunions over the past 15 years.

At West Hardin, Mike was active in the Future Farmers of America, serving as an officer and participating in its numerous activities, especially the many beef shows and FFA projects at regional and state levels.

Upon graduation, Mike worked for more than 25 years either as an independent owner-operator truck driver or a company driver. He retired from The Road in 2009.

Mike was a member of Living Faith Baptist Fellowship.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Josephine Mobley; and by all five of his siblings, Ivalee Owsley, James "Buddy" Mobley, Joseph "Jody" Mobley, George William "G.W." Mobley and Robert Mobley.

Mike is survived by his former wife, Janet Mobley; his son, George Michael Mobley; his sister-in-law, Shirley (Robert) Mobley; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

The funeral is at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 12, at Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown with the Rev. Roger Jasper officiating. Burial follows in Elizabethtown Memorial Gardens.

Visitation is from 10:30 am to 1 p.m. Friday at Manakee Funeral Home in Elizabethtown.