Michael Lee Tackett
November 6, 1983 - July 30, 2003
If you knew Michael, please email me with any stories or memories you have and I'll see if I can put them here.
Michael Tackett was one of the best friends that I had on my team at work at the Honor Academy. He was also my Team Captain for a while. He was a wonderful leader, a great guy, a good friend, and an awesome brother. He had one of the weirdest senses of humor of anyone I've ever met. Michael was laso a strong Christian. His buning passion and desire was to see the world come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He loved to talk about misisons and if there was anything he could do to spread the love of God, he jumped at the chance. One of his biggest desires was to see every person on this earth have the opportunity to hear about the Lord. He loved people, and the result was that he had many friends. Michael's story is here, taken mostly from the obituary read at his funeral in Auburn, Nebraska.
Michael was born on November 6, 1983 in Groton, CT. He was the oldest of two children, the younger being his sister Rachel. When Michael was young, he moved with his family to Auburn, NE, where he received his education and graduated from Auburn High School in 2002. In high school, he was on the wrestling team, even qualifying for State in 2002 (his Senior year). After graduating from Auburn High, he went on to complete a one year internship at Teen mania Ministries' Honor Academy in Garden Valley, TX. Michael was a big fan of the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and the state of Nebraska itself. He decided that anyone from Nebraska was obviously on a higher plane of intelligence than people from other states.
While at Teen Mania, Michael was put in a role of leadership as the ACA(Assistant Core Advisor) supervising a room of 18 - 22 year old men for the year. He also served as a Team Captain for a group of 5 co-workers in Global Expeditions, the summer missions department of Teen Mania and helping keep them in line. Speaking as one of those 5, I sometimes think that we kept him in line as often as it was the other way around. :) Michael wanted to someday attend Embrey Reddle Aeronautical University to get a pilot's license, so he could further spread the love of God. Michael has traveled with Tene Mania on summer mission trips to Panama and Thailannd, and during his year at the Honor Academy, he traveled to New Orleans and Mexico, as well as succesfsully climbing to the top of Pike's Peak (14,110 ft. elevation) with the rest of the internship.
On July 28, 2003 Michael was driving from Nebraska back to Teen Mania after a trip home to visit his family. While driving in Dallas, Michael encountered someone driving the wrong way on I-20 and swerved to avoid hitting them. He succeeded, but his car rolled and he sustained head injuires, and was admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. On July 30, 2003 Michael passed away as a result of his injuries sustained during the wreck. He was 19 years old.
I'll confess, this whole situation has been really hard to deal with. Michael was a bit like a brother to me, and he was a friend, and I loved him as such. It's never easy to lose someone you love. The one thing that has given me comfort is the knowledge that because Michael loved the Lord and trusted Him as His Savior, and because I also have a relationship with God, I'll see him again in Heaven. I'm a little jealous, actually, that he beat me there. But the hope that I have in Christ is what allows me to grieve the loss of a friend, but to know that it's not good-bye, it's only temporary. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 says "But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.". I have hope, through Jesus. How amazing is that?
One thing that occurred to me the other day when I was thinking about the whole situation (and I have thought a lot about it, in trying to come to peace with Michael's being gone) is the Bible verse that says "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (-John 15:13). Michael saw everyone as a friend, and he gave up his life for this person that he didn't even know. That is God's love in action.
Memories of Michael
These are some memories that I have of Michael, one is an email from a friend that I remember.
I remember in New Orleans when Michael stuck his finger up the nose of a statue of a statue in front of a store. And how I'd be walking down the street or the sidewalk and Michael and JoeAngel would yell "Stop!" and I'd do and then they'd laugh really hard. And I remember how he kept tripping over everything, even curbs and rocks and stuff. Since I also kept running into poles we were kind of the clumsy two out of the MIG. Michael also one night played chess with ths guy on the street for 10.00(or something like that) just so he could witness to him. Also, Michael rarely ever sat actually IN the seat on the bus, he usually sat ON the back of the seat, he was very restless in that way. I remember one night in New Orleans that we saw a group of bikers and Michael went over to look at their Harley's and admire the bikes, and try to witness. He also wanted to witness to a guy whose car (a Bug) was covered in art (beads, buttons, plastic toy soldiers, etc.)
At work, I remember so much I could never fit it in one email or paper or anything. I remember how Michael collected the plastic sticks from the cubicles and sat there and swung them around and would have sword fights with people and sometimes would almost hit people with them. I remember when our call goal for promo was 60 calls a night and we didn't think we could do it, Michael encouraged us in that we could and that we needed to give our best. He was like that.
Michael had a passion for the world. One of his missionaries he was calling was not saved and he kept calling to witness to her (I believe it was Ari, for those who may remember this as well). He wanted to see the world reached. In fact, I believe he talked with several others who also ended up being saved as a result, the sad part being that they had been on mission trips with us before. It was cool though and he was always excited about it. He loved to pray, and to worship. I remember so many times of him praying, with an amazing amount of passion and love.
Michael was quite proud of being from Nebraska. Seeing as how Univ. of Texas is a rival of Univ. of Nebraska in college sports (they're both in the Big 12) the two of us would sometimes poke at each other for that. He figured that anyone from Nebraska was on a higher intellectual plane than those from other states... In fact, he even mentioned that in something he said in the Pathfinders powerpoint at the end of the year, in Timbrel's section. I remember Michael naming the Promo team meeting place "The Batcave". When it was time to meet, he'd say "To the Batcave" and away we'd go. He also came up with the team cheer that the Pathfinders used for a while, it was based off of the wrestling cheer or whatever that goes "Let's get ready to rumble!", because he liked wrestling.
I remember so many things about Michael. He was an encourager totally, and yet he also had one of the most bizarre sense of huumor of anyone I've ever known. I remember playing Mafia and Quarters with him and people from his core and sister core. I remember him putting up the picture of an old Mustang on his computer, and I remember him playing the Rocky theme song on his computer. I remember one night he did something to Jenn's computer, apparently, so she came and messed with his, including changing the language on his computer. Michael was an amazing person and I am very thankful that the Lord allowed me to know him for a time
"So the Pathfinder ladies had a sleepover at Heidi's one night. In the morning, the guys came over and we all had omelets. Allison wanted to dye Tackett's hair so she did. Well, there was some dye left over and Allison wanted to put some highlights in her hair. "I'll put them in your hair," Tackett said. "No, that's ok Michael," replied Allison. "But what if my wife wants me to do her highlights for her some day, I'm going to need to practice." Allison then said," Well she's just going to have to do them herself." Tackett came back with, " Yeah, but what if she doesn't have any arms!?"" -Mandy Z. I think that was a favorite memory of everyone's.Michael, I miss you so much. I miss you more than I can put into words, and I know that everyone does. I can't wait to get to Heaven and see you again.
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