Michael went to greet the Lord in the early morning hours of January 31st after a brief but valiant battle with esophageal cancer. He was blessed to pass peacefully in his sleep at home. Mike was born in Monett, Missouri to Harley and Mary Hemphill and was the eldest of five siblings.

Mike enjoyed the outdoors and working with his hands all his life. He spent most of his professional career working with Burlington Northern, Eastern Airlines, TWA Airlines, and American Airlines as a mechanic and maintenance worker. He almost always kept livestock of some sort, enjoyed fishing, and could spend hours simply sitting in the woods.

Mike met and married his wife of nearly 40 years, Janice, in Kansas City, Missouri, and had two daughters, Rachel and Anna. They made their home in Kansas City until 2005 when they made the difficult decision to relocate to Texas due to his job with American Airlines. They found their new home in Denton, Texas with wonderful friends and church family.

Mike was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August of 2025 but said he couldn’t complain since he had enjoyed nearly perfect health all of his life. He continued to enjoy his family, friends, and farm life as much as possible while undergoing treatment, and kept strong faith in God’s plan for his future.

Mike is now reunited with his wife, Janice, and youngest daughter, Anna. He leaves behind his eldest daughter Rachel, her husband Richard, and their son Nate; his mother, Mary, two brothers, Mark and Don, two sisters, Janice and Brenda, brothers and sisters-in-law, numerous nephews, nieces, and extended relations whom he loved dearly.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, February 5, 2026 at Mulkey-Bowles-Montgomery Funeral Home, 705 N. Locust St., Denton. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Friday, February 6, 2026 at Bolivar Cemetery, West of Sanger.