At family get together events I had fun watching the UCF Knights and other college football games on Nantucket with Michael and showing him an my cousins photos of my excursions.

It is with shock and great sorrow that I read of Mike’s death. My former husband, Johnnie Rankin, and I had the pleasure of decades of friendship with Mike - through high school, college, and their military careers as Air Defenders. Mike’s passing leaves a void in the lives of all of us who knew h

I knew John/Mike as a fellow classmate at Lawton High School. I would consider him a true friend during those years as he and I did cut up some in class. He was a avid basketball player and real nice guy. I lost track of him after graduation but am very happy with how his life turned out. I have

I loved my grandpa. I called him "The Colonel" and he was the best. Whenever we were together, he wanted to spend every possible moment with me. He would give me my bottles, take me for walks, tell me cool war stories and let me nap on him. Those naps were the best - he made a great pillow.

Almost 46 years ago, Mike and I met at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was a Captain, just back from Germany, and I was a Lieutenant in the Nurse Corps. Six months later, he proposed to me in his car after work right after I told him I had orders for Korea. We were married in June 1974. Three days af

I don't have one single instance that would make a whole story. I only have many little things that add up to something that I don't know if I will ever live up to. Dad had to work to give us a life that was filled with potential and opportunity. Whenever he could he would do things with us. For me,

I was a Christmas present to Mike several years ago from his wife, Janet. He loved me from the moment he saw me sitting in the driveway gleaming in the sunlight with a big red bow on my hood. He loved driving me and especially enjoyed flexing my muscles whenever he got on the highway. Now Janet driv

It’s difficult for me to fully articulate and narrow down the memories I have with my dad. With him living away for the majority of the time I’ve been old enough to actually remember, my memories are different than the typical day-to-day interactions usually associated with fathers and sons. That sa

I will always remember sitting down with Mike to ask for his and Janet’s blessing before asking his daughter, Liz to marry me. While that can be a nerve-wracking experience for any potential son-in-law, the intimidation-factor was probably amplified due to the fact that his office was adorned wit

When I think of my dad, my mind is flooded with a thousand amazing memories. However, one that stands out is from middle school when the coach of my girls basketball team decided to host a father-daughter basketball game. When I told my dad about it, he looked disappointed. He said he wouldn't be ab