Michael Ray Straw passed peacefully from this life into eternity on Friday, May 3rd, 2024. Mike was born June 2nd, 1955 in Gresham (Portland), Oregon to parents Patsy Nell Olsson Straw and Don Straw. Mike was the third of six children born to Patsy. After several moves, the family eventually settled in Reno, Nevada in June of 1962.
Mike was baptized into Christ in the spring of 1970 in Sparks, Nevada. He left home at the age of 16 and took up residence in the home of Ruth Smalley, a wonderful elderly Christian woman who became his dear friend and mentor. Mike began working for the telephone company at the age of 17 and graduated from Proctor Hug High School in Reno, Nevada in 1974.
Mike married Julie Kemper on April 22, 1978. They were blessed with two sons – Anthony born in January 1980, and Toby born in October 1982.
Mike retired in April 2002 after 30 years as a Nevada Bell/PacBell/SBC/AT&T lineman and splicer. Never one to just sit around, Mike then found various employment opportunities including organizing inventory at Creative Door & Moulding in Sparks, NV and temporary contract lineman assignments with AT&T and a cable removal company that took him to Canada, Hawaii, and northern California. Upon leaving the workforce for good, Mike devoted his time to rebuilding and remodeling a house in the Lemmon Valley area of Reno.
While on a 3-year temporary assignment in California, Mike began worshipping with the Christians at the Loomis Church of Christ. He enjoyed the brethren and the love that he found at the Loomis congregation and continued to commute from Reno to Loomis every weekend for worship services for the rest of his life. Mike loved the Lord and enjoyed leading the song service with powerful enthusiasm.
Mike is survived by his sons Tony (Jessica) of San Antonio, Texas and Toby (Amber) of Sparks, Nevada, his 12 grandchildren, along with his brothers and sisters Kathy Morrison, Steve Curl, Birt Straw, Sue Brown, Jay Moon, and many other family and friends that love him.
Memorial Services for Mike will be held 18 May, 2024 at 3:00 pm at the Loomis Church of Christ, 3321 Taylor Rd., Loomis, CA 95650. The family asks that instead of flowers, donations be made to Mike’s favorite charity, Sacred Selections Christian Adoption Service in Mike’s memory