On Saturday, March 4, 2023, Michael "Mike" Gene Waite, loving husband, father of 4, grandfather of 13, and great-grandfather of 2, passed away at age 74.

He is survived by his wife, Sally Waite; his sister, Sandy Springer, and her husband, Scott Springer; son, Micah Waite and partner, Kimberly Moore; daughter, Merio Mullin and husband, Eric Mullin; son, John Michael Waite and wife, Victoria Waite; son, Robert Waite and wife, Rebecca Waite, as well his grandchildren: Lauren Millikin, Chloe Mullin, Cody Mullin, Giovanni Esquivel, Julian Waite, Sophia Waite, Johann Esquivel, Alexander Waite, Mia Waite, Zachary Waite, Mya Waite, Josiah Waite, Alice Waite, and great-grandchildren, Dahlia Seitz and Axel Millikin.

Mike, an avid learner, spent his life striving to gain knowledge for all things whilst also looking for his next adventure. He started his journey as a young man, in the U.S Navy serving during the Vietnam war. He worked as a gunner's mate and advanced to munitions expert with Top Secret clearance. After getting out of the military, he earned an associate degree in applied science and engineering at Oklahoma State University focusing on HVAC design. This was a lifetime job that led him all over the world designing and fixing cooling systems for supercomputers, sky rises, potato farms, and even the most powerful telescopes. He went to Bruni, Indonesia, China, and numerous other countries, meeting with private citizens as well as dignitaries. He went into countries that were beautiful, and a pleasure to explore as well as countries in which the geopolitical climate was so strained that even the U.S. Embassy could not ensure his return to the States. He would devote his life to this career, providing and caring for his family.

However, all of his accomplishments were not done in a vacuum. He met his one guiding partner, loving wife, Sally Ann, when he returned from the Navy. When asked one day by a grandchild if he had other girlfriends before marrying, he replied he had many, but knew he loved Sally. When asked what it was to make that decision, he just said with a smile, "Well, you know Mimi." as though their love was all encompassing and nothing more needed to be said. They would remain married until his death.

When it came to his family he ran a tight ship, and expected a lot, however he also taught all of us many indelible lessons such as the importance of working tirelessly to succeed, to endure life's challenges, and to keep moving forward.

Mike had a lot of hobbies. He enjoyed the blues, playing the guitar and the harmonica, flying remote control planes and drones, taking pictures of old high school hangouts, sailing, and being with friends that he cherished for over fifty years.

He loved being with his family which was paramount. He made time for everybody attending their baseball, soccer, wrestling, and football games, anxiously pacing the arenas as though everything was riding on the next move or next play.

As he got older and mobility became more difficult, he lit up whenever the grandkids came to visit, which with so many, was almost everyday. He would stop them and say, "Tell me a story." Then he would celebrate their victories, console their losses, and offer advice. And, if the grandkids weren't visiting enough, he would call them asking for jokes, being ornery, just letting them know that he loved them.

Mike/Dad/Papa, we love you; you will be profoundly missed.

Visitation will be 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m Friday, March 17th at Moore's Memory Chapel 1403 S. Peoria Ave., Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Celebration Of Life will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 15, 2023 Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel