Michael Lawrence Walden was born in Morenci, Arizona on August 16, 1946 to Garland Walden and Alberta Stewart Walden. He passed from this life on April 19, 2012 as a result of a massive heart attack.

Mike was just one of those “Good Ole Boys” who loved to work on old cars and tell jokes with other Stilwell “Good Ole Boys”. If you had an issue with anything on four wheels, he could probably tell you how to fix it and was always willing to abandon his projects to help.

Mike moved with his family from Arizona to Oklahoma in 1957 and graduated from Stilwell High School in 1964. In 1969, he married his high school sweetheart, Linda DeJarnatt, and had two daughters. He opened a garage in the Chalk Bluff community, but soon found that there was too much talking and not enough money being made. He abandoned self-employment and went to work in parts and service at Charley Hulbert’s Goodyear Store, NAPA and Jim Hopkin’s Ford. Tragically, Linda passed away after a long battle with cancer after 16 years of marriage. After her passing, Granny Berta and Granny Alta kept the girls and Mike began driving a truck for Hopkin’s Transports, Hudson Farms and finally Tyson, where he was employed for 15 years. While at Tyson, he won many safety awards such as, Driver of the Year, and placed numerous times in the Arkansas Truck Driving Championship.

In 1995, he found a second chance at love with his marriage to Sue Miller Horn. The family grew with the addition of her two daughters from a prior marriage. Sadly, Sue passed away from cancer in 1999 after only four years of marriage. Mike retired from Tyson in February of 2011 and transitioned to the next phase of his life working in his garage on his old 1968 GMC truck. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to finish it.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents and both wives.
He leaves to mourn, his brother and sister-in-law, Ed and Cathy Walden of Stilwell, OK; daughter, Amy Walden of Huntsville, AL; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Scott Babin of Gonzales, LA; daughter and son-in-law, Renee and Larry Matlock of Stilwell, OK; step-daughter and son–in-law, Crystal and William Braxton of Stilwell, OK; grandson, Tristan Babin of Gonzales, LA; grandsons, Caleb Walden, Jr. and Calvin Braxton of Stilwell, OK; grandsons, Hunter and Fisher Matlock of Stilwell, OK; grandson, Jackson Aultman of Huntsville, AL; several nieces and nephews; and many Stilwell “Good Ole Boys” that were good friends throughout the years.

Mike was a good father, husband, brother and dedicated friend. He will be missed by all.

Funeral services were held at 2 pm on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Roberts/Reed-Culver Chapel with Herman Jones officiating. Interment followed at Stilwell City Cemetery.

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