Michael Light

ADVANCE - On May 25, my husband, my partner and my best friend lost his battle with lung cancer. It was a courageous battle that he fought for 13 months and it was done in the same manner that he lived his life, with dignity, strength and a tenacious perseverance we all knew and loved. Michael was born July 24, 1951, in the small Texas town of Burnet. The youngest child of Charles A. Light Sr. and Amanda Lewis Light, he learned early in life the meaning of self-preservation and formed a determination to excel against the odds. He spent his early childhood in East Texas and moved to the West Texas oilfields with his father in 1966. There he worked by his father's side, played high school football and graduated from Kermit High School in 1969. Following his older brother, Charles Jr., into the U.S. Marine Corps, he "went to Vietnam on his senior trip." He came home after being wounded to finish out his military service in Southern California. But the eyes of Texas were always upon him and he soon returned to his native state to work in the same oilfields that his father had spent his life in. He continued this profession in four foreign countries until the "crash of '82" when at age 31 he found himself forced to learn a new trade. He found that place in heating and air conditioning and pursued it the same way he had everything else in his life with a "perfectionist attitude". Hard work was a way of life for him, and he "never had to ever back up to a paycheck" in his life. An avid Dallas Cowboy fan, you could always pick him out in a crowd by his ever-present Dallas Cowboy ball cap and his "giant jug of sweet tea". Growing up on country music, George Jones, Roy Orbison and Hank Williams Jr. were among his favorite singers. He loved to water ski, play pool and watch pro sports. Michael's loyalty to the people he loved was unsurpassed. He believed if you couldn't say something nice just don't say anything at all. He did not tolerate rude behavior and always respected his elders. His sharp wit and slow Texas drawl were adored by all that knew and loved him. Michael swept me off my feet in 1975 and loved me more than I could have ever imagined for almost 28 years. We were fortunate to spend over half of our lives together. There wasn't a day that we didn't tell each other I Love You or give each other a kiss good morning or a kiss goodbye. I will treasure all the memories, my love. He is survived by his father, C.A. "Doc" Light of Kermit, Texas; his sister, Karen Strickland of Sulpher Springs, Texas; his brother, Charles Light of Fredericksburg, Va.; and his brother, Michael Cooper of Kermit, Texas. He had to leave behind his daughter, Kelly Hines and son-in-law, Sean Hines of Winston Salem; his son, Michael Light Jr. and daughter-in-law, Ruby Light of Wylie, Texas; and his son, Shane Light of Dallas, Texas. He will be remembered with love by his grandsons, Jonathan, Luke and Michael Light III and his granddaughter, Katie Marie Hines. A special place for him will always be in the hearts of our dear friends, Tom and Cindy Casey of Clemmons, Toby, Beth and Camryn Robertson of Mooresville, Sharon Wood of Plano, Texas and Ronald Bates of Advance. Mere words cannot express our love and thanks to the good friends and all our family members that have supported us throughout Michael's illness. They gave us a lifetime of memories that we will always be grateful for. Their words of comfort, their thoughts and prayers helped us to be thankful for all the wonderful things we have experienced in our life together. Michael lived a happy life, and was admired and loved by his family and friends. He will be remembered forever as a good man. Love you always, Debby

The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. today, May 28, 2003, at Vogler & Sons Clemmons Chapel. The family will receive friends at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.