Michael Gunn

Michael Roy Gunn passed away on July 31, 2025, just two days shy of his 79th birthday. Most knew him as Mike, but to those closest to him, he was simply Dad or Paw Paw. He lived a life full of quiet strength, steady devotion, and deep love for his family, his community, and his Lord.

Mike was born on August 2, 1946, to J.H. Gunn and Helen Jackson. He lost his father when Mike was just five years old, an event that completely reshaped his life to come, leaving Mike, his sister Pat, and his mother, who was pregnant with their younger sister Terri. A few years later, Helen married Robert "Bob" Jackson, a man Mike considered to be a huge blessing to him and his family. Together, Helen and Bob had Robert Jr, Mike's only brother.

After a short time attending college in Kilgore, Texas, Mike decided it wasn't for him. Rather than wait to be drafted, he enlisted in the United States Air Force. From 1964 to 1968, he served as a radio operator in the Air Force Security Service and was stationed in the Philippines where he was trained to intercept enemy communications. In 1972, Mike returned to military service enlisting in the United States Navy and served until 1975. During that time, he continued his work in communications and was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas.

During these years, Mike became a father to Kellie, Karey, and Kim. As a single dad, he fought for custody at a time when few fathers did. Raising three young children wasn't easy, but he gave them everything he had and never let go of his role as their protector and provider.

Mike later went to work at the Department of Energy in Dallas where he met a woman and, struck by her beauty, told a friend he was going to marry that woman. Her name was Sandra, but everyone called her Sandy. He did marry her and they built something strong and lasting. Sandy was drawn to the way Mike loved his kids. He welcomed her daughter, Jennifer, as his own. And when their son, John, was born, their family was complete. In all, he was a father to five and he loved each of them fully.

Mike believed in showing up and doing the work. He spent 32 years as a mail carrier with the United States Postal Service, a job he approached with pride and consistency. It wasn't just about delivering the mail. It was a means to take care of his family and still be present in their everyday lives. He worked hard, picked up overtime when needed, and still made it to games, meets, and other school events. For 25 years, he had another job he truly loved; running the scoreboard clock in the press box of Hanby Stadium during football games while Sandy worked the ticket booth and the kids could be found working in the concession stand. After retiring from the Postal Service in 2010, Mike stayed active by volunteering at White Rock Center of Hope, where he met directly with clients to help meet their needs. He often said the people he met there were some of the best he had ever worked with.

Mike loved running track in high school, and that competitive spirit stayed with him. All five of his children played sports, including track and cross country. And few things made him happier than watching them compete. That joy extended to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well, making it a priority to be present for them, even as his health deteriorated. He loved following sports in general, but none more than Texas A&M. Though he never went to A&M, he bled maroon and he would watch just about any Aggie sporting event he could find. In addition to the Aggies, he also adopted the Texas Rangers when they moved to Arlington and stuck with them through some terrible seasons, an occasional glimmer of hope, and even a miracle World Series win. Through thick and thin, he loved to be out at the ballpark often with a radio in one hand and a scorecard in the other.

Mike's love of baseball played in perfectly with his strong sense of adventure and a deep appreciation for the beauty of the country he called home. He and Sandy made it a goal to explore as much as they could together. They visited every Major League Baseball park, all 50 states, and all 254 county courthouses in Texas. His sister Terri joked that he managed to post bail in each one. But these trips were never about checking off lists. Rather, they were about spending time together and making memories. Even when money was tight, Mike and Sandy made sure they took a vacation every summer; loading up the station wagon with all 5 kids to just the two of them in later years. Those trips became some of the family's most treasured memories.

Faith became the center of Mike's life in his later years. For a long time, Sunday mornings meant bowling or watching Sports Center. But when John started going to church at sixteen, he invited his dad to come along. Mike began slipping in quietly after the service started and leaving before it ended. Over time, he came earlier and stayed longer. Then on Father's Day in 1996, Mike gave his life to Christ. From that point forward, something changed. Sandy described it as a hungry-man's disease. He had gone so long without spiritual nourishment that once he found it, he couldn't get enough. Mr. Mike, as the kids called him, found his place by faithfully serving, teaching, and praying with the Kindergarteners and Pre-Kindergarteners of Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church for nearly 25 years.

Mike could come across a little gruff on the outside, but those who knew him best, especially Sandy, knew he was a marshmallow. He gave his time freely, showed up when it mattered, and found joy in being with his family. He loved watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow.

Mike is survived by his wife, Sandy Gunn; his sister, Terri Stringer; his brother, Robert Jackson; his children, Karey Gunn, Kim Tatum and her husband Don, Jennifer Koonsman and her husband Jon, and John Gunn and his wife Kristin; as well as 11 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, J.H. Gunn; his mother, Helen Jackson; his father, Bob Jackson; his sister, Pat; and his daughter, Kellie.

A visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, August 11, 2025 followed by a service at 10:00 a.m. at Shiloh Terrace Baptist Church, located at 9810 La Prada Dr, Dallas, TX 75228. A lunch reception will be held at the church immediately after the service.

Interment with military honors will take place at 2:00 p.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, located at 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, TX 75211. Guests are asked to arrive no later than 1:45 p.m. to line up for the procession.