Rock Hill, SC – Joe Michael “Mike” Summerlin passed away on July 17, 2023.
Memorial Service will be Saturday, July 29, 2023 at 2:00 pm at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Road, Rock Hill, SC. Visitation with family and friends will be at the funeral home from 12:30 pm until 1:45 pm.
He was born April 19, 1945. Mike was the son of the late Clyde Adam Summerlin and Cora Lee Barber Summerlin. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Sally Summerlin Green. Mike grew up in Cramerton, NC. After graduating from Cramerton High School in 1963, he attended Gardner Webb College and later received a business degree from Gaston College in Gastonia, NC. He married his childhood sweetheart, Ann and had three children whom he adored. Mike began his career with Ciba Geigy Corporation in Charlotte, NC. He remained in the textile industry, retiring at the age of 53 from DyStar, the Dyestuff Company of Bayer and Hoechst as Key Account Manager, Poly/Cotton Business Unit, continually exceeding his yearly quota and performance goals throughout his career.
He was a devoted husband, wonderful father, a loving grandfather and great grandfather. Mike loved his family immensely. He was a fun-loving, laid back, hilarious, and quite mischievous man; especially with his twin brother Mick, who he enjoyed playing jokes with quite often. The stories of these two will live on and continue to bring laughter to everyone who hears them.
Those who were blessed to know him often spoke of how they enjoyed his company, his comforting voice, smile, laugh and storytelling were beyond intriguing to listen to. However, today, there are two words to describe him the best: Brave and Courageous. After a long battle with chronic kidney disease and many months spent on dialysis and multiple other treatments, Mike recently received more news about his failing health. He made the difficult decision to stop treatment and live his remaining days at home with his family near and preparing himself to meet his Heavenly Father. That takes bravery and courage for someone to do, and he did it while keeping his jovial spirit and loving demeanor until the end. Mike Summerlin was the bravest man you would ever meet.
Mike is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Ann Vaughn Summerlin of Rock Hill; his brother, Larry Richard Summerlin (Jan) of Fuquay Varina, NC; twin brother, James Mitchell “Mick” Summerlin (Carolyn) of Denver, NC; his three children, son, Derek Summerlin of Swans Island, Maine, daughter, Gina Summerlin Saftner (Mark Ledford) of York, SC., and son, Jesse Summerlin of Swans Island, Maine; five grandchildren, Maybre Osborne (Kyle), Jackson Saftner, Croix Summerlin, River Summerlin, Pace Summerlin; two great-grandchildren, Summy Osborne and Aggie Osborne.
The family would like to send their heartfelt thanks to the many that provided ongoing exceptional care and support to Mike during his illness, to include Fresenius Dialysis Center, Nephrology Associates, Providence Palliative and Hospice Care and the Physicians, Nurses and Staff of Piedmont Medical Center all of Rock Hill.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street New York, NY 10016-5337 or via the web at National Kidney Foundation at kidney.org.
Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.