Mike Dexter

Michael (Mike) Andrew Dexter entered into the joy of the Lord on November 8, 2018. He is our loving husband, devoted son, proud father, and steadfast friend. He is an indomitable force for light and life in the minds and hearts of every person he has touched.

Mike was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma on April 25, 1960 to William (Bill) Russell Dexter II and Mary Ann Dexter, the younger brother to lifelong friend Dee Anna. During his childhood, the Dexters traversed the country, living in Oklahoma, Missouri, Indiana, Tennessee, and Texas. Of the places he grew up, Memphis was particularly formative for Mike. A great storyteller, he often told of being bussed to newly-integrated schools when he was 13, spending long hours in record stores, and meeting neighbor Randy Wright, who eventually became Dee Anna’s life partner and Mike’s trusty brother-in-law.

The Dexter family moved to Plano, Texas in 1976 and began attending Christ United Methodist Church. Neither the town nor the church would ever be the same. Mike graduated from Plano Senior High School in 1978, but not before meeting Necia Anne Pearce at the church’s youth group. Mike graduated from Southern Methodist University in 1982 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. He married Necia on August 14 of that year, and the couple settled in Plano in 1987. They began the adventure of their lives with the birth of their daughters, Erin in 1989 and Allison in 1991.

Mike was involved in every aspect of his girls’ lives, learning to braid curly hair, proofreading college admissions essays, and stealing the show at father-daughter dances. He kept in his jewelry box a map, hand-drawn by four-year-old Erin, marking out their first bike ride together. He and Allison papered the wall of his home office with old record sleeves (to Necia’s dismay), and were forever one-upping each other in Name That Tune. He and Necia formed an invincible team in all they did—as parents, youth group leaders, and globetrotting empty-nesters.

Mike’s impact on the people around him defies description. But to make an attempt: he was an engaging and supportive advisor and mentor, whether as Uncle Mike on a family reunion or Mike D. to his many youth group counselees. He was part of the very fabric of his church, fundamental to its growth and invested in its future. He was an untiring and encouraging coworker, dedicated to serving the clients of his accounting firm. He had not hobbies, but passions: a true connoisseur of rock music, an inspired and inspiring writer, a loyal sports fan and champion tailgater, a grillmaster extraordinaire, and an amateur cycling enthusiast. Mike was a truly outstanding father, son, husband, brother, uncle, cousin. In everything, he was a good and faithful servant to others; his friendship knows no equal.

Mike is survived by Necia, his wife of 36 years; his daughter Allison of Atlanta, Georgia; his daughter Erin and her partner Brian Rolater of Bethesda, Maryland; mother Mary Ann, sister Dee Anna and her husband Randy of Melbourne, Florida; many cherished nieces and nephews; and two adored great-nieces. He loved fiercely, and is fiercely loved.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Christ United Methodist Church in honor of Mike Dexter.

Friends and family are invited to join in a celebration of Mike’s life at Christ United Methodist Church of Plano, 3101 Coit Rd., Plano, Texas on Saturday, November 17, 2018, at 2 pm.