Obituary for John "Mike" Tafoya
John Michael Tafoya, 73, of Hardinsburg, KY, went to his heavenly home on Sunday, July 24, 2022, surrounded by his family.
Mike was born in Longview, TX, on March 30, 1949, to the late Sarah (stepfather Charles) VanWey and Pedro Ricarte Tafoya.
After high school he decided to be a "Draft Dodger" and enlist in the Navy where he was assigned to the USS Piedmont. This is where he made great memories and lifelong friendships
One of those friends carried a picture of a "good looking girl" and became his brother-in-law in 1971 when he married Mary Ruth Bates, his wife of 51 years.
They went on to have 3 children: Jennifer Love (Doug) of Benicia, CA, Todd Tafoya (Michelle) of Belton, SC, and Sarah Howard of Hawesville (KY) and in 1999, he was promoted from Daddy to Grandad to his 5 grandchildren. Levi, Carlos, Ashton, Skylar, and Abigail.
Mike was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, garden and work in his barn. He was a true Jack of all trades.
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, three sisters, Millie (Wayne) Black of Mt. Pleasant TX, San (Tommy) King of Idabel, OK, and Mary Del (Luke) Gest of Caldwell, TX., two brothers-in-law; John Wayne Bates (Carla) of San Diego, CA, Randy Bates (Susheila) of Louisville, KY and sister-in-law, Betty Bates of Pheonix, AZ, along with many nieces and nephews.
His never-ending list of jokes and big smile will be missed but is now being shared with his parents, brother Ricky, brother-in-law Stephen Bates and son in law Joey Howard who proceeded him death.
Services will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 11am CST at New Clover Creek Baptist Church with Military Honors.
The family will receive friends immediately following.
Mike was born in Longview, TX, on March 30, 1949, to the late Sarah (stepfather Charles) VanWey and Pedro Ricarte Tafoya.
After high school he decided to be a "Draft Dodger" and enlist in the Navy where he was assigned to the USS Piedmont. This is where he made great memories and lifelong friendships
One of those friends carried a picture of a "good looking girl" and became his brother-in-law in 1971 when he married Mary Ruth Bates, his wife of 51 years.
They went on to have 3 children: Jennifer Love (Doug) of Benicia, CA, Todd Tafoya (Michelle) of Belton, SC, and Sarah Howard of Hawesville (KY) and in 1999, he was promoted from Daddy to Grandad to his 5 grandchildren. Levi, Carlos, Ashton, Skylar, and Abigail.
Mike was an avid outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, garden and work in his barn. He was a true Jack of all trades.
He is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren, three sisters, Millie (Wayne) Black of Mt. Pleasant TX, San (Tommy) King of Idabel, OK, and Mary Del (Luke) Gest of Caldwell, TX., two brothers-in-law; John Wayne Bates (Carla) of San Diego, CA, Randy Bates (Susheila) of Louisville, KY and sister-in-law, Betty Bates of Pheonix, AZ, along with many nieces and nephews.
His never-ending list of jokes and big smile will be missed but is now being shared with his parents, brother Ricky, brother-in-law Stephen Bates and son in law Joey Howard who proceeded him death.
Services will be held on Saturday, August 6, 2022, at 11am CST at New Clover Creek Baptist Church with Military Honors.
The family will receive friends immediately following.