A Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013, at Riverwood Family Funeral Home, 76 Highway 51 South, Brookhaven for Michael S. Dunn, 61, who peacefully passed away Saturday, Oct. 19, 2013, at Lafayette General Medical Center after an extensive battle with lung cancer and heart disease.

The family requests visitation to be observed from 8 a.m. until time of service at Riverwood Family Funeral Home.

Mike was born Nov. 23, 1951, to Aubrey “Red” Dunn (deceased) and Viola Rae Reeves in Brookhaven. He enjoyed a rural upbringing in which he, his brothers, cousins and friends spent their time after chores hunting, fishing, and roaming the countryside. Those childhood memories became grand stories that entertained his posterity immensely.

Mike was a 1969 graduate of Brookhaven High School and a 1973 graduate of Mississippi State University, where he earned a degree in elementary education. After teaching junior high math and science for one year in the Irish Channel of New Orleans, he was lured away from education to work in the oil and gas industry.

He became a drilling fluids engineer for then Magcobar, now known as M-I Drilling Fluids, in 1974, at which time he was transferred to Lake Charles, La., Mike worked and raised his family there until a promotion transferred him to Houston, Texas, in 1995. He and his wife, Becky, lived in Spring, Texas, until his retirement in 2007, at which time they moved to Lafayette, La., to reside more closely to their son, Chris and his family.

Mike was well liked and respected in his chosen field, and was considered by many of his customers as the best “mud hand” in the business.

While living in Lake Charles, Mike was a passionate fisherman. He most loved fishing the marshes of Cameron Parish, most notably the Lacassine Reserve and Big Burns. He also loved children’s athletics, and spent much free time while in Lake Charles coaching his son’s football and baseball teams.

Upon his transfer to Houston, he became an avid golfer and member at The Woodlands Country Club, where he enjoyed many rounds of “bad” golf with good friends and customers. After his retirement to Lafayette, his declining health did not allow for his previous hobbies, but he was not to be denied the opportunity to attend his beloved grandchildren’s academic and athletic activities, often times against medical advice.

Mike was truly a charming character with a joyful personality and quick wit. He always seemed to find humor in even the most dire of situations, especially his own health problems. Those that knew him well know that his health issues were long standing and that he was close to death many times, but always somehow he pulled through. His frequent response was, “It’s hard to kill a bad weed.”

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Aubrey “Red” Dunn, and brother, Timothy Rae Dunn Sr.

He leaves as survivors his wife of 42 years Rebecca Hurst Dunn; his mother, Viola Rae Reeves and her husband Billy Reeves; his son, Christopher Michael Dunn and his wife Virginia Landry Dunn; his grandson, Gabriel Michael Dunn; his granddaughter, Aubrey Ann Dunn; his brothers, Jeffery K. Dunn and his wife Linda Hyatt Dunn, and Mark P. Dunn; his mother-in-law, Virginia Scott Hurst; and his brother-in-law, Kenneth W. Hurst; also nieces, Stevie Dunn Jackson, Megan A. Dunn, and nephew Timothy R. Dunn, Jr.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Miles Perret Cancer Services 2130 Kaliste Saloom Road Suite 200, Lafayette, LA 70508 (1-800-519-8748).

Personal condolences may be sent to the Dunn family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com.

Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, La., is in charge of arrangements.