I remember the night we talked on the phone for hours and you played that song for me.....How you loved listening to Air Supply.
I am still missing you Michael......still wishing you were only a phone call away.
What I wouldn't give for one more night of "Name That Tune" with you :)
I often wonder ...what we would we be doing now if you were still here with us?
All I am sure of is that .....even in death you can still make me smile and I know you are watching over me.I know you are still loving me.A piece of my heart belongs to you.Always has ...Always will.
I Love YOU "My Forever Friend"
Vickie
Your two favorite cousins have joined you... / Susan (Sister) My goodness Michael, the tragedies that have befallen us since you left us. It's hard to believe that both Rick and Greg are with you. I wish that you were all three here with us again, but knowing that you're all three together somehow makes it just a little easier. I'm jealous...you get to know in reality what I only know in faith. I envy the three of you that...just a little, and not in a bad way.
Three young men, all taken home so young...it could really try one's faith, thankfully I have faith in knowing that there was no malice in your being taken home, at least not by our Father.
I miss the three of you so much...I have just the fondest memories of you. There are many hearts here that are so very broken at your passing...I know we'll make it through, because we are strong in our faith I pray.
To Michael, Rick and Greg...in loving memory of all you...always. Your loving sister, and cousin...
Our Birthdays... / Susan (Sister) Once again Michael..it's that time...after almost a month, we are the same age, yet in just a few hours, you would have moved up a year. I remember you always teasing me about trying to catch up with you ;) I guess I've finally passed you (brat!) :) I miss my birthday e-cards. You always found the nicest ones...and you always remembered.
In four months it will be three years since you left. Your murderer is still free awaiting trial...it's still unbelievable to me, after all this time, that he's still simply free. I'll never understand the laws, never. With all of the wittnesses, and still he's free.
I miss you my Michael, forever...and always. Happy Birthday Michael. I love you my brother...
My Brother Michael... / Susan (Sister) Michael is the sweetest soul I know. I say "is" because his soul is still around...somewhere. I feel him with me sometimes; I'm so grateful for that...
I still wonder sometimes how long surreal will last. His death took a part of me with him, maybe to keep him company as well, from missing me.
Michael is my brother, but he was also my best friend, my mentor in some ways, and he never judged me, nor me him. We loved each other in spite of our faults. You don't find that very often in siblings...sometimes, there's rivalry, thank God we didn't have that. We had a sense of pride of pride in each other's successes, and helped each other with our failures.
I miss him beyond belief...what a loss for me and many others.
I love you Michael...my brother...
Thank You Vickie for this beautiful web site, in memory of Michael / Susan (Sister)
I wanted to say a little something on behalf of Vickie for making this site, for making it as beautiful as she has, for making a site where those of us who love Michael can have a place to visit and where we can share our memories, our thoughts and even our sadness in his passing. I didn't know that Michael had touched so many lives with his kindness, I'm not surprised in the least though, he was just that kind of guy. Thank you everyone for sharing your special moments/memories with Michael, with me and the rest of us. I know how special Michael is/was, it just means so much to read that so many others thought so as well. God Bless you and yours. Susan
You have done a fine, fine job with this website Vickie, and your compassion and love for Michael is evident in this memorial. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for me, and for those who can't see past their own faces to the truth within.
In all of the time that I knew Michael, he was never the one to complain...too much :) .... about his own plight in life. Instead, he did what just came naturally to him, enriching the lives of those around him.
His sister Susan meant the world to him, and woe be unto you if he caught you bad mouthing her. His love for Susan, and hers for him, is well known, as anyone who was around when those two got together will attest. Oh Yeah! One of those people would be Me! Sibling rivalry? Yeah, sure, like any other family, but they were always there for each other when the other needed them.
Michael could listen to you pour your soul out to him over a couple of beers, like a priest in a church, and chew you out the next second like a Drill Sergeant talking to a wayward recruit....all with a smile on his face so you knew he was serious, but not upset. Ok, but in his Mullet days it was hard to take him all That seriously! LoL!
Michael will always hold a special place in my heart, as I know he will in many, many others. Why? Because Eagles Don't Flock. You have to find them One at a Time. And Michael was always an Eagle. I wish him nothing but joy and peace now that he has found that clearing at the end of a long trail. I love you Brother. Fly Free.
Well Michael Lee it will be mine and William's birthday yet again tomorrow and for the 4th year now there will be no cards or calls from you. We miss those no matter how many others there are.
We miss you and we miss your smiles and how you always made us feel.
You will be forever with us because you have part of our hearts no one else can ever have.
Memories/ EW
Today used to be such a hard day for you. I remember so well the many hours we spent talking on this day. It gives me some peace to know you are with your father. I think of you both always on this day, through you it was like I knew him as well. I miss you Michael Lee Close
Always/ E.W
The pain of loosing you is every bit as painful today as it was 3 years ago. I feel your touch every now and then so I know you are ok. Time may move on and our lives move on but I love you always and miss you always. Close
Missing you always / E.W (Friend)
Michael seems only yesterday I shared your 44th birthday with you I remember your dread of that birthday the memories it invoked of your father. I know everyone you touched misses you and misses those smiles you could invariably pull from even the sadest of days.
Life may move on but I feel you with me sometimes and like all our time I cherish that as well.
I Miss You So / Vickie (Your Friend )
Dear Michael,
God only knows how much I miss You still.I had a dream about you awhile back and it is the only time I have ever dreamed of you that I can remember.I want to Thank You for coming to me in my dreams because, I found such comfort and peace in being there with you.It doesn't change the fact that I miss You every single day but, it proved to me that even in death you found a way to come to me and make me feel better.I Love You so much for always caring and wanting to look out for me.I will never forget you even when I go for months and weeks without coming here to this site...You are with me always and I know this and I am so grateful that you became apart of me and who I am.
I Love You Michael,
Vickie Close
My Two Favorite Men / Susan (sister)
Yet another Christmas has passed...without my father, mother, and now, my brother. Goodness, who would believe it. Such young tender ages...and you're simply gone. Thankfully, I do still have my memories. Nothing can take those away...missing you however, is a different story...nothing can take that away.
I've often wondered what Christmas would be like as an adult with older parents...coming home for the holiday, sharing those moments we shared as children, as adults. I know that we'd have a greater appreciation for the company and the food. I'm sure it would have been fun and oh so nice...making more memories. I love and miss you all...still.
For those of you reading this...cherish your families, while you still have them, because it's harder to do once they're no longer here. God Bless. Close
Another Christmas / Fred (Friend)
I am thinking of you today, we spent so many christmas days together helping each other through them and today feels like you are still here with me. Miss you always. Close
It's been two years now... / Susan (Sister)Read >>
It's been two years now... / Susan (Sister)
Michael since you were taken from me and our loved ones and friends...today is the day that marks the 2nd year and it still feels like today, the actual day that you left. I don't know that time really heals anything. I miss you as much today as I did the day you were taken. You haven't become a faint memory...yet. Actually, I hope that you never do. I miss you so much...I don't suppose that's supposed to change. I still wonder how long surreal can last. ...I still get that feeling of panick when I really stop for a moment and let it register that you're gone. I try not to do that...I wonder how long before that feeling will leave me...if ever. It's a horrible feeling if for just a brief moment. You are my heart my dear brother...always will be...forever. Close
My name is Ashley, I live in West Virginia. I lived in the same place as Michael. Where we live is not the best place to be walking very late at night. Well sometimes I would walk around, or I would walk from my cousin's house "heather." Well Michael, would be walking to the Store late. I would be walking home, and he would be coming up to me and being like you should not be out at a time like this and walking by yourself. He alway's walked me home and made sure that I was safe, even though it is a very short walk. I just wanted to tell that. Michael, was the most kindness person you could ever know in your life. People are not like that anymore. He would help you as much as he could be there for someone. (Lol) He also could talk to ya forever, which I loved. Well I guess I shall go, I just wnated people to know how kind and caring he was. I love you Mike, I miss you so much. I know you are still watching over me, Thanks for all you did!
Thinking of you / Ken Clement (Friend)
I remember only good times in Maryland. You always brightened up the room with your smile and light hearted way about you. I was just setting here thinking about you, wondering how different things would be had things turned out differently. Wishing cannot bring you back but we all have a place we can always leave a message for you. I really hope your in a peaceful place we can all be with when we meet again. Good-bye Michael, God bless forever Close
My symapthies / Michael Stafford (no relation )Read >>
My symapthies / Michael Stafford (no relation )
hi, my name is michael stafford also and i am 15 and live in australia... i just want to give my sympathies...
Another Birthday passes... / Susan (Sister)Read >>
Another Birthday passes... / Susan (Sister)
My dearest Michael...another Birthday goes by without you. In a few hours from now, 46 years ago, you arrived...only to leave again at such an early age. I surely will miss you forever. This Birthday seems particulary tough for me, for a number of reasons I'm sure, one in particular though...your killer is still free. I pray for peace from this nightmare... Know I think of you all the time, miss you terribly...and pray you are at peace. I love you my Michael. Close
Tributes and Condolences
