Michael Graham

Michael Charles Graham, age 73, passed away on January 1st, 2025 in New Braunfels, Texas, with his daughters and grandchildren around him.

Mike, the son of Paul and Dina (Might) Graham, was born on October 14, 1951, at the Women’s Hospital in Flint, Michigan. His early life was marked by tragedy. While his father’s whereabouts were unknown, his mother abandoned him and his other 7 siblings in their apartment. With no relatives willing to take in all 7 children, the older siblings were allowed to become adults and some directly adopted, his sisters were taken in by their paternal grandmother, and 6yo Mike and his 4yo baby brother Carl were sent to a Boys Farm in Davidson as part of the foster care system. The wife of the farmer, allowed for his baby brother to be adopted while he was at school, and lied to Carls adoptive parents about his whereabouts, leaving Mike alone. This would begin a lifelong journey for him, in reuniting with his siblings. His older brother Tim, and best friend, would find him in the system and get him back to their father. As tragic as his start in life was, it would shape him into the most caring and compassionate man you would ever meet. Mike never wanted anyone to feel the loneliness and despair he felt as a young boy. When he was 18, he joined the United States Army. While serving in Korea, his sister-in-law Sue Graham would stumble upon the last missing brother, Carl. Mike and Carl were stationed in Korea on the same base, just miles apart. He never lost touch with Carl after that. He was the glue that kept all 12 siblings connected to each other. He served for 21 years in the Army, a veteran of both the Korean and Gulf Wars, retiring as an E8 and going back to Flint, as he was a Flintstone and loved his city. He worked for MTA for 30+ years as a bus driver and a member of their local union, serving as treasurer. He loved every single citizen that boarded his bus and always had a friendly hello, “Good Morning” no matter the time of day, and a smile for every patron. After retiring, he spent his last few years puttering around his house, until his health declined and he went to spend his final 2 years with his oldest daughter and grandchildren in New Braunfels, Texas, where his winters were 80* and there was no snow to shovel in sight. He is survived by his two daughters: Natasha (Gary) Hartman III, and Charlene (Sean) Whittington. His daughters were his pride and joy. He was the best girl dad. He pushed for them to be well educated, Natasha a high school teacher/adjunct professor and Charlene a dental hygienist. He knew his girls were smart, and encouraged it and their independence. He taught them how to change their spark plugs, oil, filters, fan belts and tires. He taught them carpentry, hanging drywall, and basic plumbing. What he taught them the most is, that if they had the desire to do something, they had the brains to figure it out. Since they were toddlers, it was not unusual to see Mike with his girls in tow, walking around Home Depot or McCoys for hours, figuring out the best and most cost effective way to complete a project. He spent his evenings with them sitting on his lap, watching his “Cowboy Shows”. When his daughters are concentrating, you can hear them humming the theme song to Gun Smoke. You will often hear his daughters say, “I’m not paying someone to do that for me. My daddy taught me how to do it.” and off to Home Depot they go, talking to him on the phone as he walked them through their idea and project. That job will now fall to their Cousin Tim Graham. DIY is a part of them and the Graham way. His daughters gave him 6 grandchildren: Evan, Audrianna, Jose Miguel Carlos, Marianela, August and Vier (Gary Hartman IV). He is survived by his daughters and their children, as well as his sisters Patty, Pam, Kimberly, Nancy and Michelle. He had a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and great great nieces and nephews. He knew them all by name, but there are too many to recount here. He was the last living brother. He is preceded in death by his parents, and siblings: Paul Wise, Tim Graham, Dina May, Carl Ladd, Linda and Star. He will be interred at Ft. Sam Houston San Antonio, Texas, with full military honors he so honorably earned. He will spend eternity fishing with his brother and best friend, Tim, catching nothing (because that’s the Graham luck), before going to sit in a comfy chair with a black cup of coffee and a bowl of ice cream, where his favorite cowboy show will always be ready for him. Not only will he be missed by his extended family, he will be desperately missed by his “daughters of mine.”