In the early morning hours of November 11, 2016, at his residence at Lake Roberts, NM, Michael John Meek, age 84, suddenly left this world. Michael was born in Welwyn, Hertfordshire, England, January 3, 1932. He spent a few of his earliest years in Adelaide, Australia where his father, a civil engineer, was working on several projects.
Back in suburban London, England, he attended public school until the London Blitz of WWII. Michael and 4 of his 6 siblings were moved to Leeds, England for safety after their neighborhood was bombed. When the war ended Michael returned to the London area, and after his public education was complete at age 14, he began an apprenticeship with a clock and watch maker, but transferred to a machinist apprenticeship, which resulted in his earning master machinist designation, and steady employment.
From his mid-teens through his early twenties Michael was a competitive cyclist. He competed in a number of team races around England and Ireland. A serious bicycle accident put an end to cycle racing, but having a very competitive spirit, he took up racing motorcycles. He competed in motocross and flat track racing in England and Canada, till he was 48 years old. After that he participated in car racing for a number of years! With his superior skill as a machinist Michael was able to secure a position at a prominent machining company in Toronto, Canada, and moved there in 1963. Within a year he was hired as a salesman of heavy industrial machinery for the largest machinery dealer in Canada. Selling heavy industrial machinery requires not only intimate knowledge of the various machinery, but an ability to design the most efficient method to produce the end product. In July 1969 he opened his own machinery dealership in Toronto, Epsom Machinery, which he operated until 1988. After that time he was associated with the machinery dealership of a friend, as a salesman and machining production consultant. His sales career required frequent trips to many places around the world including Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Italy, Germany, France, Russia and numerous US cities.
In 1996 Michael moved to Western Pennsylvania and was responsible for machinery sales in the nine counties of Northwestern Pennsylvania for a Pittsburgh area machinery dealership. Three years later he retired and moved to Lake Roberts, New Mexico. From 2001 through 2011 he helped his wife with the publication and distribution of a specialty monthly publication, Sunshine Seniors Newspaper, for which he wrote a monthly column about wine titled "Tips From The Tippler".
Michael also had a keen interest in bird watching which was easy to indulge while living at Lake Roberts, in the Gila National Forest. For several years he and another birding enthusiast, Ken Poole, conducted guided birding tours for visitors to the area. Michael kept a monthly, bird-sighting diary from his Lake Roberts property for fourteen years. Michael loved fast cars, good haircuts, dogs, learned to love cats, and appreciated a good vodka martini, wine, Wild Turkey and Guinness. He was a devoted audiophile. Jazz was his favorite music, having been associated in his youth with several friends in England who were Jazz musicians. His musical appreciation also included everything from classical, rock and roll, hard rock and heavy metal to alternative. Contemporary was the only style as far as he was concerned, from art to architecture to furnishings.
Michael will be missed by his wife, family, and fellow members of the Thursday-night Scoundrels Club of New Mexico, and the many friends he made in Canada, Pennsylvania and New Mexico. Fortunately he did get to see his Presidential candidate win the election on November 8, 2016.
Described by his sister, Dierdre, as a "lovable rogue", Michael packed a fun-filled, interesting, exciting life, as well as a lot of hard work, into his nearly 85 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyril Meek and Cissie Merrington Meek, a sister, Joan and a brother, Barry. A sister, Dierdre, and three brothers, Hugh, Martyn and Roger, and their families all reside in England. Michael is survived by his wife, Mary-Catherine, of Lake Roberts, NM. His three children, Susan, Paula and Martyn, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren all live in Canada. His step-son, Mark Figurel, his wife and three children live in St. Louis, MO. He also left behind his kitty, Phoebe.
At Michael's insistence, there will be no calling hours or funeral service. Cremation will take place at his request. Anyone wishing to honor Michael's life can do so by making a donation in his name to their local chapter of the Audubon Society, or to the Deming Animal Shelter, Deming, New Mexico. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trusted care for the ones you loe" ~ 575-537-0777.
Special thanks to Terrazas Funeral Chapel, Santa Clara, NM, for their kind and professional services.