You’re invited to leave memories of our son on this guestbook. We miss him so, and it’s nice to know that others do as well. If you would like, please leave a memory of Michael or a message to the family. Feel free to leave memories, thoughts, notes to Michael, whatever you wish. Thanks for remembering Michael Jr.
You may also email the family at michaelsmemorial {at} swickey dot com.
(Changing the email address above to regular email format).
Hello , this is awesome , i just found this page … I knew Michael , he was a cool kid , and very sweet loving person. I was there amongst the craziness on that sad sad night , as were a few of us. And i just wanna say , I have and never will forget Him , how could you , he had such an impact on the people’s lives he touched. And he will live on forever in our hearts , and memories ……
I came across this website by chance. I knew a Michael Swickey 30+ years ago in Ardmore, Ok. I was touched by his writings on his memorial page and while I never new Michael Jr., I can tell he was very loved and an inspiration to others. I know it has been several years since your loss, but, your family will be in my prayers.
happy belated birthday MICHAEL
It’s been so nice to read some of the comments left by friends and classmates. Thank you all so very much!
Michael would be 31 years old today. It’s truly hard to arrange that properly in my brain. 31. Really?
I miss you, son….so very, very much.
With all my love, Dad
To Micheal’s family
I have been to this site a few times. I was in the same class of 99 with Michael. I had only spoke to him once, a few months before he had passed. One of my friends had a crush on him and was too shy to say anything so I talked to him for her. He had a very sweet and shy demeanor about him, and I think I made him a little nervous so I cut the conversation short. I have known several classmates to pass, but Michael has always been the one that has crossed my mind more regularly. I hope this is not inappropriate to share as I did not know him personally. I just wanted to say how sorry I am that he was taken away from your family at such a young age and that I saw something different and special in him.
I wish you all peace and comfort
to michael we love and cherish and shall hold u in our hearts as always and forever. michael u wander in my dreams as in my heart. can t wait to see u again.love always
your friend becca
Mike, Cindy and Amanda,
I was cleaning out somethings today and I found the remembrance card from Micheal’s funeral. You probably don’t remember me, as I never came over to your house, but Mike and I were pretty good friends in 8th grade. I have a really powerful and salient memory of playing “Come as You Are” in Conrad Read’s garage with Mike. There was a magic in that night (Conrad’s 13th or 14th birthday) that will always be with me, and my feelings about my own life are in many ways benchmarked by Micheal’s passing. He’s still the only person my own age I’ve been close to that died and because of that he pops up in my brain pretty often.
It blows my mind that it’s been almost 15 years since Mike died. It amazes me that I’m 30, even more so that Mike would be. He’ll always be that scrawny kid in an oversize black t-shirt playing an Oscar Schmidt electric guitar in someone’s garage. Mike was funny and weird and cool and I wanted to let you know that I think about him every time I hear that Nirvana song. I’m sorry we all lost the chance to see the really great person he would have grown into.
Yours,
Mason Weaver
Michael,
Another year has come and gone without you in it. Time sure does go by way too fast. I’m twenty seven now and to think I was only thirteen when you passed. Wow. I think of you often, especially if I hear a song you liked or I smell patchouli oil. No matter how much time has passed though I will never forget my dear sweet brother. I love you!
Amanda
Michael,
Another year has passed and it’s now been so long since you left us. We all miss you terribly and I have missed getting to know you better and having you as a stepson. You were a wonderful young man and I wish you had been in my life so much longer than just a few years. But I do remember what a kind person you were and what a good heart you had. I’ll never forget your sweet spirit.
Love, Beverly
It is so hard to believe that it’s been fourteen years since I have seen my son. We all miss him so much. I am writing on January 18th, 2011 and this day, no matter how many years on, will always be difficult.
Something I have struggled with over these years and have never mentioned here – the personal mistakes on Michael’s part at 16 years old, mistakes on the part of other young people, legal injustice by not prosecuting drunk driving and fleeing the scene of an accident (no matter the other causes), corruption in the Oklahoma City Police Department and the DA’s office in 1997 – and so many other questions still haunt me on this day of January 18th….fourteen years later. I have tried to let all that go. But injustice is injustice. I’ll always remember the betrayal I felt at Bob Macy and his excuses for not prosecuting a woman who was drunk, hit my boy and fled the scene. It’s hard to know the lies that he told me that I didn’t find out about for years. Covering up for people with connections. Apparently that was normal procedure in the office of DA Macy. It hurts.
But this I DO know…..I miss my son, terribly. I also feel blessed to have had him in my life for the 16 years he was here. I see his love for music in a couple of his cousins and that makes me smile.
I love you, Michael!
Dad
Michael, you have been on my mind lately and I was surfing the web, and came across this website. I didn’t even know this existed! I just told the story of your death (and life) to a friend of mine a couple days ago. It’s so hard to believe you have been gone 13 years. You were such a wonderful boy and young man, with such promise. I am still so saddened of such a beautiful life cut short. You will never be forgotten, Michael.
Hi this messege is from Derek Brian Terry and Sai , Michaels highschool band mates . Just wanted to say that none of us have ever forgotten him .
Michael, I just realized what the date is. I will always remember you. I wish we had come to know each other better. You are missed. I think about you every day when I look out and see the tree we planted in your memory.
i was passing through and trying to find out what happened to all those i went to school with so many years ago ,and many things suprised me . I guess our parrents were right all those years ago.. here i am 30 and it happened in a blink of an eye. i havent seen michael in so many years yet i still remember the way he smiled and laughed . he will allways be remembered..
Michael, Today is your 29th birthday. Its hard to believe you would be this age and tomorrow you would be celebrating your ten year high school reunion. A lot of time has passed since you have been gone but we will always remember the birthdays you got to celebrate while you were here. We miss you and love you very much! Happy Birthday!
Love Mom
(I’m over at Mom’s tonight and I helped write this…Happy Birthday from me too! Love, Amanda)
Here we are – another birthday. We all wonder what you would look like, what you would be like, what you would be doing with your life with all of your talents. Married? Children? It’s natural for us all to wonder these things, but really, you’re frozen in our minds and memories at the tender age of sixteen. You will NEVER be forgotten. Happy Birthday, buddy.
It’s the middle of the night here and Michael crossed my mind as I thought about friends from the past. I knew him well enough to know he was a talented musician and could write lyrics as well as anybody I have ever known and he was only 16 when he died.
I’m surprised people that visit here don’t seem to leave many messages besides Michael’s immediate family. I am guessing he didn’t have a large extended family, obviously very few cousins, aunts, uncles. I wish more old friends would go ahead and leave a message because I’m sure they want to know he hasn’t been forgotten. Hope that’s not out of place here, but hey, he was a good person and he was taken way too soon. Peace to you Michael.
Jason Wood
Charlotte, NC
For the family of Michael Swickey, Jr. -
I didn’t know Michael, but I graduated from Putnam City High School in 2000. I was looking at the alumni pages, and I came across Michael’s memorial page. I know that many years have passed since you lost him, but I imagine that your grief, at times, still seems unbearable. My heart goes out to you, and I pray that you all find comfort in your many happy memories of Michael.
Sincerely,
Kristen ‘James’ Plotner
Michael,
It’s hard to believe another year has come and gone without you being here. It actually seems longer for me because I was only thirteen then and I’m twenty five now. We all love you and miss you and think about you often. You will always be in our hearts!
Love,
Amanda
Michael,
Another anniversary of you not being here with us on this earth.I reread your poems again and realize how deep you were for a boy of your age I am amazed.You were such a sweet, and caring boy. I think of all the things that could have been for you. I love you Son. I always will .
Love,
Mom
Well, another anniversary of your worldly death comes around. It’s 4:10 in the morning on January 18th and I can’t sleep because I have been thinking of you and working a little on your website here. I haven’t been thinking totally in a sad way, but remembering what a neat little boy you were and the fine young man you would have grown into. You gave us all some wonderful memories, buddy.
I Love You!
Dad
Dear Cindy & Michaels family: I stumbled accross michael’s website today looking for online memorial sites & idea’s for creating one. I am so sorry for the loss of your son. I lost my son Nick, who was also 16 yrs old, only 14 months ago. My daughter was also 13 when her big brother passed away. The loss of our Nick was very sudden & unexpected & it is still hard to believe he’s really gone, it doesn’t seem real sometimes still. Even though it’s been a year, it seems like yesterday. It breaks my heart to hear of other young men who have passed too soon, too young. I will always miss & think of my Nicky as I know you miss & think of your Michael all the time. He seems like a wonderful boy , just like my nick, very loving & special. Why is it that always the extra special ones go too early? I am still trying to understand that.
Much peace to you…..
Theresa, Nick’s mom
Portland OR.
bzzymom3@yahoo.com
I only knew you for a few of your birthdays, but I remember your 16th – how excited you were to get your new guitar! That’s a special memory – seeing your face light up in surprise and gratitude. You were a special young man, Michael, and I miss you too. Happy Birthday
We all miss you, son.
Today, we choose to remember the happy days – like all those great birthday parties! My favorite was when the magician came and put on a show.
You will never be forgotten….
Happy Birthday, Michael.
Today would be your twenty eighth birthday. I can’t believe that the last birthday we celebrated together was your 16th birthday. So many years have passed since then.The picture your Dad posted today was from your 3rd birthday.We had Mickey Mouse come it was your first bithday with your new sister there, your birthday cake I made fell apart your Dad had to go buy one from a bakery. So many memories of special moments of your birthdays, I’ll cherish forever. I love you son. Happy Birthday.
Love,
Mom
It is so hard to believe it’s been eleven years. There are so many awful memories of that time. Yet, eleven years on, I have tried to put it all in perspective of eternity. The fact is, we are all dying. Some die at 6 minutes old, some at 16 weeks, some at 6 years old, some at 16 years old, some at 96 years old. We never really know. Unfortunately, our Michael died much too young. But, there’s no escaping the fact that every single person alive today will one day be gone too. It is my hope in some sort of reunion. It may be in a way that none of us can possibly imagine – but the hope is there.
We miss you, Michael. So much.
I love you son….
Dad
Dear Son, I’m writing this on the eve of the anniversary of eleven years without you. Alot has happen in that time frame. We lost Grandma Erma, and Uncle Harold within the last two months. So we remember once again how quickly our lives can change. Your Dad, and Beverly have really been there for Me, and Grandma Connie, and your sister. All of this just puts into perspective how our lives change. Michael,your best friend from grade school got married this summer, and sitting there seeing Clinton grown up ,like a young man, made me think what would you look like now and where you would be in your life. We all miss you so much, I know you are in heaven, and Grandma Erma is with you now. I love you son and I’m thinking of you always.
Love,
Mom
For my precious nephew. Today was the first time I realized you had a website. Today we buried your greatgrandmother Erma. It is at times like this we remember those who are so dear to us, and are no longer here on Earth. You were taken from us too soon. The pain is still real. Your birth changed the course of you mom and dad’s lives. Your cousin Gordon thinks of you often, and wishes he could see the man you would be today (as we all do). Knowing your love for music, I believe you are in God’s heavenly presence, playing in His band of angels. And today you are reunited with your greatgrandmother Erma Gammell.
God bless you Michael for touching our lives and for continuing to live on in our hearts.
Your aunt, cousin & Uncle Mike love you & miss you.
Michael,
I know you don’t know me or my little family, but we have grown to love your mom and your sister very much, and also we know your dad and stepmom. this is a family that has lost such a light, i can only tell from reading what your dad wrote, but after becoming a mother, it affects me so much more when someone loses a child. I just lost my mom after a long battle with COPD. Amanda was one of the first people i told. She and your mom came by to visit me in the hospital when i had Emma. and i seem to see your grandma Connie all the time at the store.
I know Amanda misses you very much. i’m always here for her.
love
barbara randy and emma foley
I have received some email about leaving messages here on the guest book. Yes! Go ahead, it’s not for family only. Anyone can freely leave their remembrances of Michael…and….thank you.
I married Michael’s dad, Mike Sr., just 5 months before he died. I wish I had known him longer, but I am very grateful for having known him at all. He was such a sensitive, caring young man – and so talented. He had a flare for writing and loved his music. I wish he’d had the chance to turn either into a life’s work. Michael, we miss you so much! It’s been a long ten years without you.
Love, Beverly
Michael was my brother and I miss him very much. It’s hard to believe he’s been gone for ten years. I was thirteen when he died and I’m twenty three now. I just try to remember the good times. I love you Michael!
Michael,
Today your sister and I visited the cemetary,to leave flowers for you. It took a while because of all the snow,but there popping out of the snow were flowers left from before it was a sign like I’m over here. Michael , you;ve alway’s been here whether it’s a song you liked ,food you liked. Son, ten years since I saw that smile,the push of your hair from your face, behind your ears.You would be a man now, maybe a father. I miss you so much. You will always be with me. I love you!
Love,
Mom
Son, How can it possibly be ten years since I have seen you and heard your voice? I think of you all the time and wonder often what you would look like at 27, what kind of young man you would be. I miss you so much, Michael. Love, Dad