Michael Edward Hearons died peacefully in his writing chair at the age of 87, shocking all of us who adored him by not reaching his goal of living to be 100 "to see how things turn out." Born on January 4, 1938, the third of seven children, Mike grew up in Long Beach, California, the grateful son of Edward Justin Hearons and Margaret Kay Hearons. He often recalled how their love and gentle moral hand shaped him.

Four siblings survive him: Brooke, Robin, Richard and Ed. Sisters Kay and Shelley have undoubtedly greeted him in Heaven. But it's the reunion with his beloved wife, Carol Ann Esser, whom he lost to cancer in 2014, that is our consolation. We, his many nieces and nephews, deeply mourn our uncle, as do his friends, former co-workers, and dearest life-long pals, Tennie and Jim Rutledge, who savored almost half a century of friendship. All of us loved him, dearly.

Mike's creative life as an ad man (Campbell-Ewald and McCann Erickson), started as a young boy making up stories in the confessional. An imaginative prankster, Mike may have tricked his younger brother into believing he had given a ray gun to their little sister, but kind-hearted Mike took on extra paper routes months before Christmas to provide presents for everyone in the family during rough financial times. He was a unique combination even then.

Gifted in languages, people skills, wit and an uncanny optimism, Mike tried various professions until he was smitten by his future bride, Carol Ann Esser, while a Camp High Sierra counselor. He sampled life in the forestry service, as an elementary school teacher in Mammoth, and in the U.S. Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Settling in Pontiac, Michigan, Mike succeeded in the advertising world (from General Motors to Rockwell's space shuttle), and devoted the next nearly 50 years to his beloved wife.

Mike and Carol Ann generously shared their love, quirky fun, adventure and extraordinary kindness, as well as their summers on Loon Lake, and winters in Briny Breezes, Florida. Their doors were always open to us.

The only thing powerful enough to pull Mike from Pontiac was caring for his kid sister, Robin, in Appleton, WI. During those ten years, Mike bonded with the people of Appleton. Wherever his daily tasks took him, people warmed to his open, upbeat and genuine nature. And they returned his kindness. We are especially grateful to neighbor Carol Brueggemann for sharing her loving friendship, delicious food and weekly fun through visits and card games that Mike and Robin so enjoyed. Her presence made such a happy difference in their lives. As did friend and handyman Jeff Brownell.

Mike's utter delight in words kept his mind agile and entertained. In retirement, he wrote essays on caregiving for ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network, the organization that profoundly helped Carol Ann. And he edited manuscripts for clients who would, of course, become friends for life. Through email, he remained actively engaged with family and friends around the country. In his later years, he seemed to breathe rhymes, unfurling limerick after limerick that could be silly and sage; they served the purpose of processing his immediate world and our nation's challenges.

With Mike's passing, we lost the finest of human beings and America lost the best of citizens. He possessed a molten core of empathy, desiring to understand people rather than to judge or shut them out. Concerned as he was for the future, he could still be clear-eyed and optimistic, glad to care for his family, and willing to cheer on a better outcome for our divided nation.

In all of the years we had the honor and pure joy of knowing Michael Hearons, he never acknowledged his sacrifice or accepted a whiff of praise for his caregiving. He would turn it around and talk about how caregiving had saved him. As we mourn and celebrate his life, we find ourselves "channeling Mike" in an attempt to emulate his example. There's such goodness in it. We're fortunate to have lived on this planet at the right time to know him.

Charitable donations in Mike's memory can be made to the Carol and Michael Hearons Program at ICAN, International Cancer Advocacy Network at https://askican.ejoinme.org/donate, or to the charity of your choice.

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