Mike Salas' Obituary
Miguel or better known as “Mike” was born to Miguel and Angelina Salas January 24, 1943, and passed away May 20, 2024, peacefully at home with his family in Plano, Tx.
During High School, Mike was enrolled in the ROTC and graduated from North Dallas High School in 1961. During Mike’s junior high years, he did play on the football line, but claimed he was not any good. Instead, he wanted his focus to be on getting good grades. Therefore, he would occasionally pay his sister a nickel to complete his homework for him.
As a child, Mike and his family spent most summers traveling down to Monterrey in Mexico to spend weeks with his beloved cousins.
The day after his high school graduation, he and his parents drove to Denton where he enrolled at University of North Texas where he majored in Biology. After graduation, Mike joined the USAF and rose to the rank of Captain. He was initially sent to West Texas and then onto Turkey. After Turkey, he was then sent to Thailand where he was stationed at the Nakhon Phanom Royal Thai Air Force Base for one year. When he had 6 months remaining, he moved back to Southern California and then returned to Dallas in 1969 on a sunny day and was Honorably Discharged from the United States Air Force. Of the locations he was sent stationed, he preferred Turkey due to the scenery, beaches and history.
One of his nephews David always looked up to his uncle like an older brother. He would describe his apartment furniture as cool and modern. Mike loved his nephews dearly but was able to enjoy a lot of fun times with David due to their smaller age gap. David still remembers when Mike bought a brand-new Dotson 240z and took them cruising onto the highway.
Mike went on a blind date with Cheryl Waters and they were married July 9, 1977. Their son Ryan was born in 1978 and Raine in 1982. Mike left early for work every morning so that he was home for dinner with the family. They were married for 47 years at the time of his passing.
Mike went on to re-enroll at the University of North Texas and earn an Accounting Degree and then on to earn his license as a Certified Public Accountant. He went to work for Arco until shortly after Ryan was born and then retired from GAO after many years doing government audits and other things, he found so interesting.
In 2003 Mike was Recognized by GAO with a Community Service Award for his personal commitment and dedication in assisting the Collin County Community as a Volunteer Interpreter between the physicians and patients at the free Public Health Children’s Clinic’s clinic in Plano. This was something he began doing before and after his retirement and he looked forward to every week.
After his retirement from GAO, his title became “Full Time Poppi” to his oldest grandson Nolan.
Mike was not someone you would hear in the next room or one making a lot of noise, but you could definitely hear him from the stands cheering on a grandchild. They meant the world to him. He was also someone who when he spoke, you need to listen.
Mike was the family photographer. He carried his Nikon everywhere he went and took thousands of pictures of his family, particularly his grandchildren. Mike was the pancake maker. He would not only make pancakes any time the kids would arrive, but he always had a plethora of food to offer the kids should they need a fudgesicle. You were never hungry when you were with him. When his second grandson Caden was born, he would show up on the dot to come sit with him while Raine went to pick up Nolan from school.
He spent many summers taking the boys fishing, to playgrounds and to the nearby parks. His grandson Gage would bump knuckles with him anytime he could and that became their way of greeting each other and saying goodbye. His granddaughter was born last, and he would hold her the entire church service if she allowed him to. He was born to be a Poppi and they would tell you he was the best.
Mike was an active member of St. Francis Anglican Church for approximately 50 years and served on the Vestry and volunteered as the Church Treasurer for twenty years until his illness from Covid in October 2020.
Mike miraculously survived being in a coma after being ventilated for 59 days due to Covid. When he woke, he celebrated his life at every opportunity through his grandchildren’s activities, sports, music, and holidays. He beat all odds and that will continue to be a miracle we all were able to witness.
Mike was reunited in Heaven with his parents and two sisters - Idalia Fontecchio and Olivia Morris. He leaves behind his wife Cheryl, son Ryan, Daughter Raine (Josh) Lincoln and grandchildren Nolan, Caden, Gage, Harper and many other family members who will miss him immensely.
A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, May 29, 2024, from 5PM to 8PM, with a time to pause for the praying of the Rosary, at Restland Funeral Home, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243. There will be a memorial service the following day at 10 AM, May 30, 2024, at St. Francis Anglican Church, located at 3838 Walnut Hill Ln. Dallas, TX 75229. The family invites guests to join them at graveside service afterwards at 2PM in Chapel Garden Mausoleums, located at Restland Memorial Park, 13005 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75243.
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