Michael Stone

Mike Stone took his final nap on February 8, 2020, at home in Buda, Texas. The last words he uttered on this earth were, "I love you, too" to his wife. It was a good death.

Mike loved music, movies, history, and sci-fi. He loved country drives and simple pleasures. He found peace in nature. More than anything, he loved to share a laugh.

There wasn’t a hospital in Fort Stockton where his family lived at the time, so Mike was born in San Angelo, Texas. While growing up, Mike lived with his Air Force family in Frankfurt, Germany; Tacoma, Washington, West Palm Beach, Florida; Montgomery, Alabama; Evreux, France; Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; and finally in Fairfield, California where he graduated from high school at the early age of 16 as a National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalist. Later in life, a long-time friend dubbed Mike "a walking compendium" and would sometimes call him late at night to ask him to settle an argument or answer a question. (Now, we have the internet!)

Mike attended Rice University in Houston and completed his BA degree in history at Angelo State University in San Angelo. He earned an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin. Mike spent more than twenty years working for the Seton Healthcare Network, eventually becoming the Administrator at the then newly-opened Seton Southwest Health Center. After Mike left healthcare, he became the Director of Auxiliary Services at St. Edward’s University. He retired from that position after nine years in 2014. Colleagues at St. Edward’s remember him as a kind mentor, with a great sense of humor and a sharp wit. In retirement, Mike found pleasure honing his creative cooking skills as a home chef, going to movies (sometimes 2 in one day, back-to-back), traveling the back roads of Texas with his wife, and weekly, Wednesday-night poker games with the guys.

More than any other achievement, the one Mike was most proud of was his family. He celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary with his wife, Brenda, on December 20, 2019. She was always his closest confidante and his "lady fair." Anyone who spent time with them knew the love between them was palpable. They shared many adventures and lots of laughs all the way to the end.

Mike was also a devoted father whose children adored him as adults, just as they did when they were little. He was playful and funny, and gave them a childhood filled with laughter. Mike was the dad who played kickball with all the neighborhood kids in the front yard and baseball in the backyard. He took his kids to explore the Barton Creek Greenbelt most Sundays, and taught them to play Poohsticks on Shoal Creek.

He swam and played with the kids until their fingers turned to prunes in Port Aransas and on the Frio River. He spent innumerable hours making sure they both learned to drive stick shift. He supported them and loved them with his whole heart and without reservation, even when they didn’t make it easy.

Mike’s parents, Robert and Louise Stone, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Brenda, of Buda; daughter Briana and her son, Coltrane, of Buda; son, Keith and his wife Rachel, and their children Mariah, Christian, Jeremiah, and Thomas, of Austin; sister, Donna Sammon and her husband, Bobby, of Waco; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the DaVita El Milagro Home Dialysis Clinic, especially Dr. William A. Rodriguez and Krickett Grimes, RN, for their care and kindness over the years. They would also like to thank the Kidney Transplant Center at St. David’s North Austin Medical Center for their care, especially Dr. Jacqueline Lappin for being his advocate and giving him the gift of self-determination, which he cherished.

A memorial service, followed by a celebration of life will take place at McKinney Roughs Nature Park (1884 Hwy 71 West, Cedar Creek, TX 78612) on Sunday, March 8, 2020, at 3 p.m. All are welcome. Anyone who wishes may share their thoughts or memories of Mike as a part of the ceremony or in written form.

For catering purposes, kindly confirm your attendance to Sara Kendrick at 512-587-2713 or studiokendrickatx@gmail.com by Tuesday, March 3. Sara will be able to provide information about overnight accommodations if needed for out of town family and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Austin PBS, KLRU-TV (P.O. Box 7158, Austin, Texas 78713-7158). Additionally, April is Donate Life Month. Please consider registering as an organ donor.