Nola: I was in Walmart with Michael at the toy department. There was a large wire cage about 10 feet tall and 4 feet wide holding about 50 of those really large bouncing balls in it, the kind that are 3 feet around. Michael found the trap door and turned all the balls loose. Make that 3 times that Michael was escorted out of Walmart.

  Sheryl: Michael, Daniel, Marty and I were at my place in Baxter. It was a hot day and the creek looked inviting so we decided to pull over and kick off our shoes and wade in the water. Before I knew it, there was Michael racing towards the water, stripping down as he ran, all the way to his thong and running in the creek screaming with my dog Copper chasing after him trying to bite him in the butt.

 

  Justin: I was working at McDonald's at the drive-thru window when Michael came to the speaker and ordered his usual mayonnaise and water. Little did I know that he had aimed both his windshield washer nozzles to the left and when I opened my window to take his money, he got me soaked!

Scott & Alex

Scott: I have a million stories to tell and this is one of my favorites: I have these giant pair of jeans about size 40 or maybe larger. Michael and I went up to the old school on the mountain and he got in one pants leg and I got in the other pants leg and we went roller skating. We fell down a lot and were rolling all over the place. That was fun! Nobody else would do that with me except my best friend Michael.

Alex: He was always scarring me! I'd be sitting in the car not doing anything and he'd creep up on me and then jump in the window screaming and scare me all the time.

Brad: I only had Michael in one class but it was the class that I looked forward to, because Michael would take up for me when people were talking about me behind my back. He would always try his best in algebra and sometimes he would ask me for help. In his memory I will dedicate my last year at SCHS to him.

  
Seanna: Michael and I have been best friends for many years. I took Michael to Six Flags in Georgia with me and my boyfriend who didn't know Michael at all. The whole time that we were in the car, Michael went into one of his impersonations and pretended to be somebody that he wasn't and that really freaked out my boyfriend. I kept telling Michael, to stop that because he had my boyfriend scared to death! It was so funny.

  Lisa: I've known Michael since the 8th grade, and he was crazy, but we loved him, because that's who he was. I would think about things that he would say, and I realized that it really did make since. I had wellness with Michael and Daniel, our sophomore year. He really loved Daniel. ALOT!!!! Michael was so different from everyone else, but that is what was so great about him. I remember that I met Marty, (Michael's mom) the day of the prom at Walter's Flower Shop and she said she said I could marry him if I wanted to. It was going to storm really bad that night, and Michael was going to get a hotel room and stay in Chattanooga because she was so worried about him driving home late in the storm and she asked Lisa and me if we would keep an eye on him so he wouldn't be alone. It was a good day that day. He always called me his favorite crazy Catholic, Jew...and he would pop my back everyday in history. I miss Michael a lot...in case you can't tell. Oh...in history one day, I ran my finger up Michael's back, and he jumped, so the substitute thought it would be nice to come over to my desk and tell me that we can flirt after class, so when we left, he told her that we're off to flirt now. He always made me laugh. I was really heart broken when I found out about Michael that morning. I saw Daniel, and I felt so sorry for him, because he wouldn't have Michael anymore. But then I realized that no one could ever forget Michael, and he would live forever. A lot of people loved Michael a great deal. I just want you to know that.

 CNW: There are so many good things to think about; so many things he did for everyone. Ever since the funeral all I could think about was to stop thinking so much about myself and to start thinking about other people ...and animals. Ever since the funeral if I see an animal on the side of the road I help it. Every animal I see needing a home I look for it a home. So many things he has done are to be remembered. He will be missed and loved forever in my heart as the wonderful person he is. He took up for me when no one else would.

  Tabitha: I'll love Michael forever. I was Michael's girlfriend for the past 9 months and I have plenty of stories about him but this has to be the funniest thing I can remember. I bought him a little surprise gift and brought it to school for him. When he unwrapped it, he was like "wow" to see that I bought him a can of sardines! He couldn't figure out exactly what to do with them at first and then he got an idea. He put the sardines way up under the snack machine where the candy comes out, but where you couldn't see them. It sure did stink for a couple of days and nobody would buy any candy or figure out what that smell was.

 Jim & Sherry: I can hardly say this but the day of Michael's funeral. About 9 in the morning, we just happened to stop by our little farm we had just bought in March. We pulled up in the front yard, just aching about the day ahead and those we do truly care about. There in that front yard, up popped a little tiny puppy head. She couldn’t have been 4 weeks old and so very vulnerable. Jim and I both yelled, "Michael!", when we saw this little puppy. Jim said what would Michael do? Well we did it; we jumped out and picked up this tiny little girl. She was so sick. I took her to the vet and had her treated for worms and mange and we love her with all our hearts. She is now 3 months old and simply precious. Name, oh, yes she has one, we named her Michaels' Little Orphan Annie. I am sure he gave us a sign this day and bless him everyday for it. So many people love Michael not loved, but love him, and always will and his love for animals. Its spreading Marty. And that is a blessing too.
I love you Marty. Be gentle with yourself.

Hope	Whitney	Jamie
Kaitlin, Nola's daughter	Tasha	Caitlin
Sheryl, Michael, Dan	Zack	Mitchel
The Nolans	Norman (Michael's half brother)	Greg (Michael's half brother)
C.W.