Michael Wayne Stiles

It is with tremendous sorrow that the family of MICHAEL WAYNE STILES announce his passing. Father to daughter Emma Elaine "Em" Stiles, Michael was the 5th child of the late James Dale "Jim" Stiles (1930-2005), and of Esther K Stiles, who survives in Elkins.
Michael was born September 11, 1969, in Sistersville, West Virginia. He spent his early years in Tyler, Braxton, and Tucker counties, attending grade school at Saint George Academy, where he learned compassion, humility, and how to play chess really well, in addition to gaining the foundations of an excellent public education. Michael's passion for the arts also expressed itself early. He was in the band while at Tucker County High School, and after graduation in 1987 attended Fairmont State (now University) where he earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre and Music Education (a master's degree in Directing from Chicago's Roosevelt University came later). Michael found his true life's calling when he became Theatre Director at Musselman High School in Berkeley County in 1994. Michael also found his life partner around this time, a powerful soul by the name of Lori Elaine Knight. The two truly were soulmates. They welcomed their daughter, Emma Elaine Stiles, into their lives in 2010, and celebrated over twenty-five years of marriage together before Lori's untimely and tragic death in 2022.
Michael won many awards and served in many professional capacities during his 25 years+ at Musselman High. Under his direction, Michael's students performed across the US and as far away as the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Early retirement (due to a diagnosis of terminal cholangiocarcinoma) saw Michael nonetheless actively parenting, acting, and volunteering with theatre groups, the Berkeley Community Chorus, and the local Indivisible chapter in his community until his passing at home in the early morning September 20th.
Along with his daughter and mother, left to cherish Michael's memory are many, many friends who are like family; an extended Stiles family of cousins, nieces, nephews; father and mother-in law, Larry and Ginny Knight, of Clarksburg; and his five siblings and their families: Teresa Myers (Tony), of St. George; Deborah Stiles (Lawrence Troska) of Limestone Mountain; James Stiles, Roanoke, VA; Richard Stiles (Elizabeth), Richmond, VA; and David Stiles (Tamaki), Silver Spring, MD.
Michael can be deemed founding member of the Stiles family Star Trek Fan Club; he was, like his father (and all Trekkies), an eternal optimist. "Even in the darkest circumstances, there is always a light sometimes only a glimmer. Trust that light. Find a way back, no matter what it takes." (Captain Picard as spoken by actor Patrick Stewart .
Michael's life was a life well lived; he will be missed.
A celebration of Michael's life will be held on Friday, October 3rd, at Brown's Funeral Home 287 Arden Nollville Rd., Inwood, WV 25428. Visitation will be at 11 am with the service beginning at 12 noon. Michael's complete obituary can be found at https://www.brownfuneralhomeswv.com/memorials/michael-stiles/5641279/obituary.php.