Just a brief message / Ray Dumke (Friend) I talked with your dad last week, we are going to get together sometime soon just to talk and hopefully ease some of the heartache that we feel, also he is going to meet me at your gravesite and show me where it's located, he says that he goes there on friday's so maybe this week if he is available I can see you. Talk soon Love Ray
hi mike i wanted to say hi to u and to tell u megan and i have picked some names for the new baby and we are going to call the baby if it is a girl grayson (gracey) after her daddys true best friend that way everytime i see her she will help me remember the friend that left me
I Love You Mike / Dad To all who left their parting words, I thank from the bottom of my heart as does the rest of his family ( his mother and sister ). I can't begin to understand how difficult life will be without Mike, only time will tell. God works in ways we do not understand but must except, as our faith has taught us. Every day I will pray that God keeps my son close to him which I know he will, this I believe. His sister has moved to Georgia so I don't get to see her as often as I would like to but my love for her is as great as the love that I have for Mike, whom I was able to see more of and the world he lived in. No more will we see his smile or hear that silly laugh of his, or be able to hug him, play golf with him, watch the Browns win the Super Bowl, well watch them, but these will be the greatest test of my faith. Mike brought a lot of happiness to many and touched many lives. No matter where I'd go with him, he seemed to know somebody. Most important, I believe the biggest loss of all is going to be to his beautiful daughter, Michelia to whom Mike was her world, and she his. They lived with me for awhile and the relationship he had with his daughter was next to heaven, something I never able to do as well and regret it every day of my life. There was nothing He wouldn't have done for her. I pray God gives Michelia the strength to go on without a father, and the wisdom to know his love for her was never ending and he would never had done anything on purpose to hurt her. Mikes mother is going to miss her baby, Mikes sister is going to miss her brother, Michelia will miss her father, and I his Dad will miss my son more than I can begin to ever try to put into words. I thank all of for your support and prayers. Rest in Peace my son, I Love You.
Love Dad
for my friend Tina / Cindy Miller (a friend of his mother ) Tina, i am so sorry.. i had no idea this had happened to you.. i wish you never had to go thru this.. only us mothers know that awful heartache that never goes away.. i wont try to tell you it gets easier.. i dont believe it does, but you will start to feel numb.. i havent found that to be a bad thing..
Michael is in heaven now.. He is your angel.. thats such a beautiful feeling.. just look up and know that he loves you and is watchin over you.. and that one day we hold our babies again :)
pls call me if you ever need anything.. just wanna talk.. cry.. you know i understand.. i miss you..
hugs cindy
good day / Jason Higgins (proud friend ) hey bro its now the 25th of march just a day after my birthday it was a good day maegan and the baby did some really cool things for me then we had a party man it was fun but there was just one major thing missing it was u my best friend i still cant believe u r no longer here i am glad ray has now found this site he truely misses u alot and i know how much he hurts cause i do also
just wanted to say i love u and miss you dawg
roc
Miss you / Ray Dumke (Friend) Michael,I feel compelled everyday now to come here to this site and look at a story or picture and wonder what could I have done for this tragedy not to have happened. I think about when I would dial 10 on my speed dial and would get this damn voice saying THIS NUMBER NOT IN SERVICE and get so MAD!!!!!! I could not get ahold of you. I miss you man. So now I come here and cry about the friend I no longer have. I'm sorry man, wish I could have done something, anything. There is an emptyness that I can only hope will be filled by leaving messages here and by lighting candles for you/me. Will write again soon
With deepest sorrow and heavy heart I write this.To my friends parents,I am so sorry for your loss, the pain you must feel in lossing your beloved son I cannot imagine, to lose a family member at any age is a terrible thing. I found out on 3/19/07 thru a friend that Michael had passed,and once again me and my wife Dina are so sorry that we were not there to greive with you. Michael held a very very special place in our hearts. I met Michael in 1996 he a wharehouse supervisor for Boardmans and I a truck driver for Gold Coast Freightways, I saw Michael on a daily basis sometimes 2 or 3 times a day, we instantly hit it off, and as each day passed we became closer friends. One of my fondest memories was I remember in 1997 my wife was able to acquire tickets to the World Series between the Cleveland Indians ( Mike's favorite team),and the Florida Marlins(my favorite),so I had great news to break to him once I had the tickets in hand, to say he was excitied is an understatement. He was able to see two of the games with us. We had found some 50 of each Cleveland Indian & Florida Marlin buttons somewhere and made it a contest to see who could sell more at the stadium, as we walked thru the crowd screaming Get Your Buttons Here Only $1.00 ( I found out he was giving his away for free).To look back at it now it seemed so silly but at the time it was alot of fun. Between the tailgateing and the games we built a special bond that I will never forget. We went to several Marlins games after that but always remembered where we sat and what we cooked( Lobster Tails & Filet Mignon) those World Series nights.And then there was the wedding, I was asked to stand in as an usher, I was honored and said I would do my best to make sure everything went as smoothly as it could,and what a wedding it was, Kristi looked magnificent and Michael looked as elegant as a statesman as the two of them made their vows I can remember feeling so proud of him as he was finally becoming a man. As I met his family (most for the fist time) I realized just how loved he really was,I was truly happy for him and his new family. Thats just a couple of moments in a special friendship I now have to cherish without my friend. He lives on in my memories now and I will never forget my special friend(GET YOUR BUTTONS HERE!!!!).
Poem that Erin wrote for Michael's funeral / Erin Rader (Cousin)
Michael(Cousin) September 14, 2006 Today you died You left many hearts broken And words unspoken You were loved unconditionally by friends and family You were taken from this world By an ugly enemy Something that controlled your mind, body and soul No one knows what to say Or how to feel This pain is deep This pain is real You will be missed by every inch of our bodies Some ask why Some ask how But nobody knows except you You're with the Almighty now He welcomes you with open arms Nothing can harm you Nothing can touch you With every passing day, we will stop and think How wonderful and beautiful you were The pain is deep The pain is real This is hard to take Our hearts deeply ache But we know your eyes are watching down on us So keep us safe this is not the end Peace, love and let your spirit fly... Poem by Erin Rader
Missing you / Ed And Michele Dunne (friend/co-worker) We didn't know you had passed away. We're so sorry we didn't get to say goodbye. All of the memories from the past years come running back into our minds - the day Michelia was born, your wedding day, 4th of July parties, birthday parties and office parties, just hanging out in the pool and at our houses. We lost touch over the past couple of years, saying that we'd call and get together, but never did. But you were always in our thoughts and now more than ever. The pictures of Michelia are beautiful - she looks just like you. We know you're watching over her now. Mike, you are an awesome person, someone we are proud to call a friend. Take care, until we meet again.
HELLO MICHAEL, MY OLD FRIEND / Elba Hinckley (Friend/Co-Worker) Oh Michael,
What a way for me to communicate with you. It saddens me to know you are no longer amongst the living. It's funny but we just spoke last year prior to my Birthday in July. You were going to join me an my closests friends to celebrate my B;day. I was so happy to hear you were doing well and I was most excited that we got to talk. I even played a practical joke on you on your voice mail when I left you a message. It's most unfortunate that you didn't show up. I, as always, forgave and forgot. I'm sorry I couldn't see you my long lost friend. However, at the same time, I'm happy for our last conversation was a good one and it had been some time since I knew anything of you. I'm sorry I wasn't there when your family and friends were grieving your loss. However, I just found out the Lord took you just today. I'll always remember our fun times, Kristie and Machaela. Oh Lord how they must be hurting. I know what it's like to lose a loved one. Oh dear Lord, your mother, Tina. How my heart hurts for her. As losing a child must be the worse thing on earth. However, God has left her with two others and grandchildren. Life has to go on with or without you my friend. I will light a candle on your behalf. May the Lord show you the light and keep you. I know, in my heart, that you are with my favorite people whom I have lost. Including Peter!! I will see you again my friend! . With a sadden heart, Love,
Elba Hinckley
missing you / Jason Higgins (lucky to call him friend ) hey mike its been been 6 months since u left us i wish i could say ity has gotten easier but it hasnt i miss you like you left me yesterday i love u and miss u please watch out for all of us
I love you Michael / Mom
If Tears Could Build A Stairway
If tears could build a stairway And memories were a lane We would walk right up to Heaven And bring you back again
No farewell words were spoken No time to say goodbye You were gone before we knew it And only God knows why
Our hearts still ache in sadness And secret tears still flow What it meant to lose you No on will ever know
But know we know you want us To mourn for you no more To remember all the happy times Life still has much in store
Since you’ll never be forgotten We pledge to you today A hallowed place within our hearts
I knew Mike back in the PAL days playing football. He was a great kid.. I'm sorry for your loss.
RIP
Burns
Goodbye/ Kelly (Sister) Before I fly and wave goodbye I say to you "Days with you are the best years of my life" But if I don't see you anymore Keep my words safely stored And I'll be back I promise once more
Goodbye, goodbye Till I see you again Goodbye, goodbye I'll love and I'll miss you till then
Remember me 'cause I care Where you are and how you fare Get in touch if the wind blows in your face I guess it's been too much fun We've shared and we've won Yes the best is yet to come
That one word hurts so bad You leave the best you've had But you keep the faith and pray to return
Goodbye, goodbye I'll love and I'll miss you till then Goodbye, goodbye Goodbye, goodbye
mike you would be so proud of your mom and sister they have done a great job building a wonderful place for all of us to come and remember you the way you should be ...Mike i still miss u like i lost u yesterday i thought it was going to get easier but it has only gotten harder maybe its cause i dont want to let you go yet .. but know i will someday be able to move on .. when that day comes i will never forget you as I have found you can never be forgotten you were a huge force in life but now you are just as big in death ...
I LOVE YOU ALWAYS ROC
HEY DUKES thanks for what u have done HEY KELLY mike would be proud of u
Survivor/ Mom My Mom is a survivor, or so I've heard it said. But I can hear her crying at night when all others are in bed.
I watch her lay awake at night and go to hold her hand. She doesn't know I'm with her to help her understand.
But like the sands on the beach that never wash away... I watch over my surviving mom, who thinks of me each day.
She wears a smile for others... a smile of disguise! But through Heaven's door I see tears flowing from her eyes.
My mom tries to cope with death to keep my memory alive. But anyone who knows her knows it is her way to survive.
As I watch over my surviving mom through Heaven's open door... I try to tell her that angels protect me forevermore.
I know that doesn't help her... or ease the burden she bears. So if you get a chance, go visit her... and show her that you care.
For no matter what she says... no matter what she feels. My surviving mom has a broken heart that time won't ever heal.
Remember/ Kelly (Sister) If ever there is a tomorrow when we're not together there is something you must always remember, even if we're apart I'll always be with you.
I'll be missing you / Mom You were so full of life, Always smiling and carefree, Life loved you being a part of it, And I loved you being a part of me. You could make anyone laugh, If they were having a bad day, No matter how sad I was, You could take the hurt away. Nothing could ever stop you, Or even make you fall, You were ready to take on the world, Ready to do it all. But God decided he needed you, So from this world you left, But you took a piece of all of us, Our hearts are what you kept. Your seat is now empty, And it's hard not to see your face, But please always know this, No one will ever take your place. You left without a warning, Not even saying good-bye, And I can't seem to stop, Asking the question why? Nothing will ever be the same, The halls are empty without your laughter, But I know you're in Heaven, Watching over us and looking after. I didn't see this coming, It hit me by surprise, And when you left this world, A small part of me died. Your smile could brighten anyone's day, No matter what they were going through, And I know everyday for the rest of my life, I'll be missing you.
You are not forgotten, loved one Nor will you ever be. As long as life and memory last, We will remember thee. We miss you now, our hearts are sore, As time goes by we'll miss you more. Your loving smile, your gentle face, No one can fill your vacant place.
feeling your sorrow / Bonnie Muir (visitor) Our family would like to offer our condolences on the loss of your son..We too know the pain you are feeling as we lost our daughter , Tara (aged 25) in a tragic car accident on Oct .2nd,2006...They say only the good die young..and like your son our daughter was a beautiful, funloving,outgoing compassionate person..She was the life of the party as well and had a smile that would light up any room...They also say "when God closes one door he always opens another ".. we just wish as parents that our children's doors didn't close before our own.. A friend of our daughter's posted a poem to her memorial site that I would like to share with you...
Know that I am with you,although you cannot see. Listen for my voice when the wind blows through a tree. I love you all eternally,I'm always at your side. I had to leave you here on earth so I could be your guide. I'll wait here for you patiently, so please don't try to rush. I'll see you when the paintings done and God lays down his brush..
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