Michael Ray Moreno

Major Michael Ray Moreno, 63 years-old, of Plano, Texas, passed away after courageously battling Hodgkin's Lymphoma for 6 years. Throughout his journey, his wife of 40 years, Peggy Moreno, three children, Jeffrey, Julie and Jennifer, and many other amazing family and friends, supported and cheered him on. He never complained about his illness and always had a positive outlook on life. Michael's positive attitude was highly contagious to those around him.
He was born on February 26, 1953, to Lorenza "Lottie" and Mike Moreno, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a proud, big brother to Sylvia and Richard. Michael graduated from Broken Arrow High School, Class of 1971, then went on to be a first generation college graduate of Oklahoma State University in 1976. He earned a bachelor's degree in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. On a very hot day, August 9, 1975, he married his beautiful wife Peggy. They were married at St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Tulsa, OK. They proudly raised three children, Jeffrey, Julie, and Jennifer, and modeled to them what true love is. After graduating from college, he was hired by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, which later merged with AT&T where he worked for 40 years. He enjoyed every person he met at work and built great friendships. He passed his strong work ethic trait on to his loving wife and three children. While in college at Oklahoma State University, he participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corp and continued his patriotic duty for 20 years after college. In 1996, Michael was honorably discharged from the United Stated Air Force Reserves as a Major. After he retired from the Air Force, he continued to show his patriotic love for his country. On holidays, he always put out his American flag to share his pride with others. Michael's father, also served honorably for the United State Air Force. Throughout the years, Michael was a soccer, basketball, baseball, softball, and volleyball coach to teams' his children were part of. One of his most memorable times was when he and Peggy were part of the Vines High School and Plano Senior High band booster programs. He would proudly wear his Wildcat Band shirts and caps to every game, and he never missed a performance. He was a chaperone for games, events, and band trips with his wife. He also did a lot of behind the scenes work for the band organization. After his three children graduated, he continued to attend home and away football games for the Wildcats with The Friday Night Group. Every Friday, Michael would enjoy a fun meal with his wife and The Friday Night Group. Michael enjoyed traveling with his family and friends, cheering on the Oklahoma State Cowboy sports teams, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and many other sports teams. He always looked forward to Sunday afternoons to watch NFL football in his recliner.
Michael was a friend to everyone and always found the good in any person or situation. He was a warrior who went into the battle with cancer with full armor and was ready to fight. He fought this nasty disease and beat it once, then it tried to come back again. It came back, but he did not leave us without a good fight.
A big thank you to those who cared for Michael during his cancer journey; Dr. Charles Connor of Texas Oncology-Plano East, Dr. Brian Berryman of Texas-Oncology-Baylor Charles A. Sammons Cancer Center-Blood and Marrow Transplant, and all the amazing doctors and nurses at Medical Center of Plano, especially those in the Critical Care Unit.
Michael is preceded in death by his beloved parents; Lorenza and Mike Moreno. Survived by his loving wife of 40 years, Peggy of Plano, children Jeffrey of Houston, Texas, Julie, and Jennifer of Plano; sister, Sylvia Gerlach and husband, Mark of Centennial, CO, their children Melissa, Brian, and Andrew; brother Richard Moreno and wife Nancy of Collinsville, OK, their children Alex and Austin McSpadden; brother-in-law Don Ellington and wife Teresa, their children Kayla, Karol, Kathy, six great-nephews, and numerous extended family.
A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00pm on Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2700 W. Spring Creek Parkway Plano, Texas 75023. A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 11:00am on Thursday, March 31, 2016, also at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church with a reception to follow in the Parrish Hall.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society in memory of Michael Moreno at https://www.lls.org.
"When you die, it does not mean that you lose to cancer. You beat cancer by how you live, why you live, and in the manner in which you live." -Stuart Scott, ESPN sports anchor