Michael James Stephens

Michael (Mike) James Stephens beloved son, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle entered eternal life on December 21, 10:11 p.m., at Providence Medical Center in Anchorage Alaska surrounded by family. He was only 64 years young. His passing follows a surprising diagnosis and an intense, month long battle with stage four, metastatic lung cancer. Mike (you probably know him as Big Mike, Grandpa, or Mick) definitely can't be accredited with being the fastest human alive. He had two speeds, 'slow' and 'you have got to be kidding'. Getting stuck behind him in line or going down the stairs was enough to make even the sanest of people want to pull their own hair out. He took his precious time as he strolled through life, never rushing through anything. His birth was no exception. On January 25, 1951 a full two weeks past his determined due date, Michael was finally born to mother Marion Margaret McCormick-Stephens and father Clarence James Stephens (Jim) in Maryville Tennessee. When the nurses placed him in his mother's arms she held him tightly and wept. However these were not tears of joy. Those extra weeks he'd hung out cooking in the womb had left his skin terribly dry, cracked, and wrinkled. Fearing there was something wrong with her new baby boy his mother whispered through her tears, "You poor little thing. You are so ugly. I'll always love you even if no one else ever does." At less than a day old, Marion had taught him an important life lesson, to love others unconditionally. This one simple statement laid the foundation for the amazing man that he would grow to become. After a few short days that ugly duckling's skin smoothed and healed just as the nurses had promised it would, and he grew to become one of the most handsome men to come from the Stephen's family line. Mike was the third out of five children and the only boy. He had a sweet, gentle disposition and was extremely shy and soft spoken. So much so that he choose not to utter a single word until the age of two when out of nowhere, he asked his mother for another glass of milk. The family moved from Alcoa Tennessee to New Orleans in 1963 and permanently settled in Ocklawaha, Florida in March of 1964. Michael developed a love for music unlike any other, early in life. All of the children took piano lessons at a young age, feeding his passion. There wasn't a song put out during his lifetime that he couldn't tell you the name, year produced, history of how the lyrics came about, and all significant happenings surrounding the time it was released. He continued on to learn the guitar and joined both the Marching and Jazz bands at his high school, playing the slide trombone. He struggled through academics in the public school system (let's blame the allure of the 60's for that one) before graduating, to his Mother's great relief, in 1969. Once out of school he took a job at Martin Marietta where he met the beautiful Sharon Jean Kominarek. After finally working up the courage to ask her out, the two started dating but he truly stole her heart when on the day she was fired, in Jerry McGuire fashion, he told his boss to shove it and they walked out hand in hand. Soon after, he took a job at Brigadier as a draftsman, designing floor plans for mobile homes, which he thoroughly enjoyed. For several years he flourished in both life and love. On June 16, 1973 he and Sharon were married and the couple settled in Ocala Fl. As things sometimes go, after over a decade together, the couple divorced June 7, 1984. However, it was during those maybe not so perfect years (we've all been there) that Mike met the one true love of his life his son. His one and only child, Michael (Mikey) George Stephens was born June 27, 1979. Divorce brought on a lot of change in his life. This included a new and better job at Decca/Oak Run after the closing of Brigadier, drafting plans for homes in the then new housing development. He stayed with the company, spending his free time enjoying the bachelor life and spending time with his son until the company made the decision to bring in what would prove to be his Achilles heel. Computers were taking over and as hard headed as we all know Mike could be about change, he refused to learn the new systems. Instead he told them where they could stick their new fangled contraptions and quit. Michael worked for Taylor rental for several years and then for Ford Motors up until his early retirement. He never remarried or even had another relationship, choosing instead to enjoy being single, spending time with his family, and relaxing on his porch with his friends drinking a cold one at the end of the day. This simple life was all he needed to be happy up until his son moved to Anchorage Alaska with his wife and kids. Although Mike stayed in Florida at first, he couldn't handle the distance between them and decided to move to Alaska as well in 2010. Never having flown before and terrified to do so, it took a failed attempt on his own before his daughter-in-law's mother escorted him the whole way to get him where he wanted to be. When he told the story he would laugh and say he followed the fiery redhead around the airport like a lost puppy. In his new home he found love once again, beginning passionate love affairs with The Lifetime Movie Network, The Weather Channel, and a plethora of Music Choice channels (they were all just too good to him to choose only one). Yet, he somehow found the time to share his affections with every Hallmark Christmas movie ever made that he kept stocked on his DVR. He spent the rest of his time laughing with his son, drinking coffee, moving things out of place in his daughter-in-laws kitchen, and watching his granddaughters after school. Michael's life taught us all so many things. We now know that when you're worried about a break in, a well placed shoe can be both an excellent security system and a great way to trip your family members or that you can never have too much of a good thing, you can survive off of nothing more than coffee and chicken pot pie. Most importantly he showed us how important it is to take the time to enjoy the small things in life and to love without reservations. Mike has now been reunited with his Mother Marion McCormick-Stephens, Father Clarence Stephens, eldest sister Mary Stephens (who he is getting acquainted with for the first time), Grandfather Clarence Stephens, and the top portion of his right middle finger which he lost to a man eating lawn mower when he forgot that as long as it's still turned on, even disengaged blades can hold tension. His spirit is carried on by his sisters Peggy Stark, Patty Hansen, and Penny Alexander; son Michael G. Stephens; daughter-in-law Krystal Stephens; granddaughters Katelynn and Nevaeh Stephens; brother-in-laws Jerry Stark and Wayne Hansen; nephews Chris, Kevin, and Pete Showalter; nieces Tiffany Thomas, Danielle Stark, and Luna Hansen; and every other lucky soul who's life he entered, even if only briefly. We would like to invite everyone who remembers Mike to honor this wonderful man in whatever way you can. However, those who really knew him would agree that raising a glass of your favorite drink would be a good place to start. As his final journey (this flight hopefully full of a lot less anxiety than his first) we will be bringing Big Mike home once again. A celebration of life will be held on Sunday February 21, 2016 at Hampton Beach, Ocklawaha Florida for all who would like to attend. For more information please contact his family. We ask that all who visit this page please share your favorite stories and memories of Mike with the rest of us in the guestbook down below. It is through the memories and words of others that we become immortal, living on forever.