James Michael Latta's Obituary
Captain James Michael Latta, or “Mike” to those who knew him well, passed away on April 26, 2023 in Dallas, TX. A memorial service will be held at Restland Funeral Home & Cemetery (13005 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, TX 75243) at the Wildwood Chapel at 10:00am on Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Mike was born June 8, 1949 in Dallas, Texas, the second child of William and Anabel Latta. He graduated from Bryan Adams High School in 1966 and received his Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Southern Methodist University in 1970.
During his time at SMU, Mike was in the Air Force ROTC and joined the Air Force after graduation to pursue his dream of becoming a pilot. Mike served in the 917th Air Refueling Squadron for 6 years, flying KC-135 Stratotankers.
After leaving the Air Force, Mike began working as a pilot for American Airlines. Over his 34 years with the Company, he flew DC-10s, Super 80s, 727s, 757s, 767s & 777s. Mike flew the inaugural American Airlines flight from Paris to New York in 1987. While based in Chicago, Mike met Jayne through mutual friends and they eventually married in Dallas on February 7, 1987. After enjoying married life, Mike and Jayne welcomed their son Kevin into the world on March 12, 1991.
By those outside the family, Mike was best known for his career as a pilot, but Jayne & Kevin knew him best as a loving father and husband who was happiest spending time with those he loved. Mike had a wide variety of hobbies and skills, ranging from photography, building his own darkroom in his childhood home, to carpentry, to rooting for the Cowboys and the Rangers. In his younger days, he enjoyed playing baseball, cycling, skiing and water skiing at lakes around Dallas. On one occasion, he enjoyed a water skiing trip so much that he was forced to “sleep it off” in the boat as his friends towed the trailer holding the boat back home. After a career of travelling the globe, Mike preferred to spend his free time at home, but he made exceptions to go on family trips with his wife and son.
Mike was a lifelong animal lover, from taking care of his childhood Dalmatian, Pepper, to his family’s West Highland Terrier, Sammy. The sometimes stern military vet did not always appear to be the most nurturing to the untrained eye, but his love and care of a guinea pig, a hamster, a toad, a turtle that showed up in the driveway and two dogs revealed his true colors. When Sammy got sick in his later years, Mike became his fulltime caretaker, giving him daily IVs and medicine until his final day. Whether it was with animals or humans, Mike’s big heart was undeniable.
Mike’s reserved demeanor with strangers fell away when he was with those close to him. Those who loved him enjoyed his subtle, sarcastic wit and his deep knowledge of a wide variety of topics. Mike kept a small circle, but those lucky enough to be within experienced his kind generosity and warmth. Sharp, resourceful, hardworking and even keel, Mike lived an incredibly full life and will be deeply missed.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Butch. Surviving him are his loving wife, Jayne, his son, Kevin, and his future daughter-in-law, Laura.
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