Dates
Michael James Caraway went to be with the Lord on January 22, 2018, following a long illness. Visitation for Mike will be held on Tuesday, January 23, 2018, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Harper Funeral Home and Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 24, 2018 at Southland Baptist Church with his friend, Dr. Matt Walton, presiding. A private family interment will follow in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.
Mike was born on March 10, 1947, in San Antonio, Texas, to Wilma and Frank Caraway. He spent his early years in San Antonio and Tyler, before moving to San Angelo in 1952. After graduating from Central High School, he attended Angelo State University, there receiving a Bachelor of Arts in 1969 and a Master of Arts in Teaching in 1974. Mike married the love of his life, Claudia Hollen Caraway, on February 16, 1974.
He served in the U.S. army from 1970 to 1972 and, while stationed at Fort Hood, was honored as Outstanding Soldier – First Cavalry Division and Outstanding Soldier – III Corp.
Mike taught in Weslaco and at San Angelo Central High School before retiring in 1982 to work for his father’s oilfield business. He was active in Caraway Operating Company from 1982 until his retirement in November 2015.
His legacy is one of service and faithfulness - to his family and friends, to his church, and to the charities he held dear. He served as both a board member and Chairman of the San Angelo Board, and on the executive committee, of the West Texas Rehabilitation Center in San Angelo and Abilene. He was honored with the WTRC’s Billy Mac Award in 2012. He also served on the executive committee of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. A long-time member of Southland Baptist Church, Mike delighted in serving as a church deacon, an usher for Sunday services, and chairman of Southland’s pastoral search committee. One of his proudest accomplishments was teaching Sunday school each week for over 30 years.
He loved the outdoors and some of his favorite memories were from his many elk hunting trips with his family and friends at the Taylor Ranch in Colorado. He was a fearless scholar, took great joy in learning and was a life-long student of history and civil liberty. He loved writing notes to friends and family, often accompanied by a cartoon or a news story he thought would be of interest. He loved time spent with family and friends.
Mike was a loving husband, devoted father, and cherished brother and friend. Alzheimer’s disease took Mike incrementally from those who loved him, and we are grateful he is now healed and at peace. His family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Baptist Retirement Center’s Tally House for the care provided to Mike during his last months and for the kindness and support they have shown to his family.
Mike is survived by his wife, Claudia, and daughters, Arlene Caraway Matthews of Lubbock and Kimberly Caraway of Alexandria, Virginia. He is also survived by his sister, Debbie Williams, and her husband Ron, of Lubbock and his brother, Mills Caraway and his wife, Cherri, of San Angelo. He is further survived by nieces and nephew, a host of in-laws, and many cherished friends. Mike was much loved and his abiding faith which was a beacon to all who knew him will be deeply missed.
The family request that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the West Texas Rehabilitation Center or Southland Baptist Church.