Michael Edward Faherty's Obituary
Mike Faherty was born on March 25, 1935 to Mary Sheetz Faherty and Michael Richard Faherty in Pierce, West Virginia. He entered into life eternal on November 14, 2017, in Dallas, Texas. Mike grew up in Pierce and learned to work hard early as a member of a mining family in a mining town. He graduated from Victory High School and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served four years, travelling all over the world on 18 different ship transports. The Marines, Mike would later say, taught him discipline and courage… lessons he applied for the rest of his life.After his years of service, Mike returned to West Virginia to marry Patti Ann Daugherty, the love of his life, whom he had met through her brothers while still in high school. Their marriage spanned 60 years: October 19, 1957 through November 14, 2017. Mike’s professional accolades were so numerous as to sound improbable: a pioneer in the computing industry and a sought after financial analyst and business consultant, Mike began with US Steel and progressed through multiple companies, including Celanese and Datapoint. Mike was a million-mile air traveller “before that was a thing” and crossed that threshold multiple times. He continued consulting and investing throughout his years of retirement. When he wasn’t working, Mike cultivated many interests and passions, including travel, art, wine, and music (especially jazz, especially at the UNT Jazz Lab).Mike was highly intelligent and equally giving and loving. He read extensively, and particularly enjoyed histories and biographies, from which he could quote with uncanny accuracy. But chief among Mike’s interests and passions were his family and his many friends, for whom he was an endless source of support, encouragement, and unconditional love. Mike also cared deeply for his canine and feline companions, who gave him and Pat joy throughout their marriage. A longtime member of Ridgewood Park UMC.Mike was preceded in death by both parents, two brothers, and a stepbrother. He is survived by his beloved wife, Pat; by his children Kate (ex-spouse Peter Nichols), Patrick (wife Yadira and sons Carlos and Andrew), Maureen (husband Chad Imgrund and sons Stephen and Jonathan), and adopted daughter Shannon (husband Mark Vowell and children Oliver, Tristam, Maggie, and Josephine); and by his cousins, Tom Faherty (and wife Becky) and Bobby Faherty (and wife Karen).A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at Ridgewood Park UMC on Friday, November 17, 2017, at 1pm.Memorial gifts may be made to Ridgewood Park UMC or a favorite charity.
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