Michael Thomas

Michael Kenneth Thomas, age 56 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully on Sunday, July 30, 2017 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on November 25, 1960 in Fort Myers, Florida to Henry J. and Lucille (Thomas) Thomas.  He was graduated from Niles High School, and served a tour of duty in the United States Army.  He was self-employed as a handyman to many of the homes in Niles.  He was able to repair anything from machines to houses, and recycled most of the community’s outdated and unrepairable appliances.

Big Mike was a man of God, and often worshipped at the Victory Church in Buchanan.  He was also the life of every party, with a seemingly endless collection of jokes and good humor.  More than all of that, he was a family man, caring for his family as his greatest priority.

That family includes his companion of twenty-six years, Susan Kaye Carroll and his children, Torie Smith of Niles, Kesonia (& Jermaine) Thomas-Walker of South Bend, Indiana, Michael Jerome Thomas of Indianapolis, Indiana, Kenneth Thomas, Rochele Thomas, Michael Carroll, and Tamisha Carroll, all of Niles and Johnnell King of Texas; twenty-one grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and Mike’s siblings, Barbara (& Conyers) Ingram of Jackson, Tennessee, Brenda (& Robert) Williams of Tampa, Florida, Beverly (& James) Hosea of South Bend, Mary (& Lennie) Gills of South Bend, Willie Sirmons of Naples, Florida, Jimmy (& Darlene) Thomas of Fort Myers, Johnny Thomas of Niles, Harrison (& Regina) Thomas of Fort Myers, and Manuel (& Alicia) Thomas of Chesapeake, Virginia; two aunts, two uncles, forty-two nieces and nephews, twenty-five great-nieces and nephews, and a host of relatives and friends.

The funeral service for Michael Thomas will be at Noon on Friday, August 11, 2017 at Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles with The Rev. Bryant L. Bacon, Sr. officiating.  Committal rites will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 11:00 a.m. until Noon at the church.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.