Michael Anthony Rutledge

April 28, 1992 — July 11, 2021

Michael Anthony Rutledge was born on April 28, 1992 and passed away on July 11, 2021. He was an extremely happy baby. He radiated sunshine. His beautiful blonde ringlets attracted attention everywhere he went. Michael was extremely gifted and talented. He could draw and paint anything. He taught himself to play the guitar and the piano and played them both well. He loved to sing and write songs. He really loved Freestyling and was good at it. He enjoyed jamming with friends and did so often. He played and sang at open mic nights. In recent years, he really enjoyed karaoke which he did on a regular basis. Michael had a brilliant mind and was a deep thinker. He thoroughly researched everything he was interested in and would talk for hours about what he learned. He was an avid gamer. He enjoyed riding his bike and spent endless hours skateboarding,

He never met a stranger and would talk to anyone who would listen. He had a big heart and always tried to help those in need. He was a friend to anyone he thought needed one. He truly wanted to make people happy.

Michael joined the Army Reserves in 2013. After graduating boot camp, he went to AIT to be trained in Psychological Operations. He was then chosen to go to Airborne training. Had he remained in the Army Reserves he would have gone to Ranger training. Michael excelled in his training and his family was all so very proud of him.

He loved the outdoors. He often hiked local nature trails and creeks. He enjoyed camping and the many adventures he went on with his best friend, Cameron. He also loved gardening and learning about plant life.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Oscar and Jo Rutledge; maternal grandparents, Terry Schoonover, Brenda Bourland and James Dillard and paternal aunt, Anita Rutledge.

Michael is survived by his mother and father, Suzie and Patrick Dillard; father, Tony Rutledge; sisters, Nichole Borjas (Omar), Rebecca Dillard and Grace Dillard; grandmothers, Sandra Schoonover and Valerie Dillard; grandfathers, John Hudachek, Sr. and Terry Bourland; aunts and uncles, Lisa Hudachek, Julie Wolf (Scott), John Hudachek, Jr., Beth Rutledge, Lee Desmond (Chuck), Jamie Dillard, Sharron Tyron (Jerry), Cindy McCorkell (John) and Amy Speh (Randy) and cousins, Ethan Wolf, Faith Wolf, Davy Adams, Erin Desmond, Alyx Sample, Bo Desmond, Cassie Desmond, Jolee Jimboy, Kaylee Jimboy, Lyndee Jimboy, Owen Speh and Emma Speh.

There will be a Celebration of Life at 2:00pm on Saturday, August 7, 2021 at Allen Family Funeral Options. For those who cannot attend in person, the service will be webcast live adn recorded for future viewing at http://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/57995

If it is your wish the family suggests memorial donations, in Michael’s name, to any of the following organizations:

Foundation 45 (local Foundation)

PO Box 151532, Dallas, TX 75315

https://foundation45.org/donate/

National Institute of Mental Health

Office of Science Policy, Planning, and Communications 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6200, MSC 9663, Bethesda, MD 20892-9663

866-615-6464

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/

National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI)

PO Box 49104 Baltimore, MD 21297

703-524-7600

http://www.nami.org