Michael R. Stone

Obituary of Michael Stone Michael R. Stone, 63, of Leesburg, Florida passed away Saturday, July 16, 2016 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was born December 8, 1952 in Sanford, Florida, the son of the late Gerald and Sheila Stone. Mike retired with 25 years of service in the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His career began as an intern in Terre Haute, Indiana. From there he transferred to Lexington, Kentucky where he met his wife Kathy, to whom he was married to for 34 years. From Lexington, he worked in various capacities in Otisville, NY, The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, GA, FCI Tallahassee, USP Atlanta, MCC Miami, and FCC Coleman, FL. He graduated from Garfield High School in Terre Haute, Indiana in 1971. He received his Associate's degree from Northeastern Oklahoma A & M, where he played football on a scholarship, a Bachelor's Degree from Indiana State University where he also played football and his Master's Degree in Correctional Administration from Eastern Kentucky University in 1978. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; son, Christopher of Jacksonville, Florida and daughter, Rachel, of Nantucket, Massachusetts; brothers, Matt (Becky), Naples, Florida, Mark (Susie), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Patrick (Jenny) Terre Haute, Indiana; Sisters, Jerri Barnard (Curt), Terre Haute, Indiana; Mary Monroe (Jerry), Terre Haute, Indiana. He was a Veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in Germany. During Mike's 21 years in Lake County, he gave selflessly to numerous boards and projects. Among his most significant accomplishments was his tireless dedication to coaching youth soccer. He almost single-handedly built the Lake County Soccer League and the Hickory Point Soccer Complex to the level at which they are operating today. Mike spent thousands of hours coaching, maintaining the fields, refereeing and searching for donations and grants to ensure a quality program and playing fields for local youth. For the past 15 years he ran the Hickory Point Soccer Invitational which was the largest high school tournament in Florida. Again, he did it almost all of it by himself, putting in countless hours looking for sponsorships, making up schedules, arranging accommodations and maintaining the fields. For the past three years, the tournament raised enough funds to enable significant donations to the "For Kid's Sake Foundation," a non-profit organization supporting families who have children experiencing pediatric cancer. This Foundation was near and dear to Mike's heart and he supported it with tremendous passion. He reached out to a family who had recently lost a child to cancer and honored them at the tournament in December 2015. He always was the first to step up where there was a need. He coached JV Volleyball at Leesburg High School when there was a vacancy needing to be filled. He was instrumental in the Leesburg High School original gym floor project, leading the way in selling sections to raise funds for the Athletic Boosters. He served on boards for the Central Florida Sports Commission, The Educational Foundation of Lake County, The Salvation Army and Lake County Parks and Trails. He chaired the Lake County Public Safety Coordinating Council and the Miracle Field Committee, which recently dedicated a new field for special needs children. In January 2016, he took over as interim CEO of the Central Florida Sports Commission and was instrumental in coordinating and supporting key athletic events in Orlando and surrounding counties. His love of sports made this job extra special to him. Mike never missed his children's activities, including traveling to every away game, and often organizing rides, food and concession stand operations. He particularly loved watching them on the soccer field and the teams always new Mike Stone would be there either coaching or cheering them on. He coached his children Chris and Rachel over the years and to this day, many of the children he coached tell of the positive impact he had on them. Mike's love of salt water fishing started while living in Miami and some of his happiest times were on the water with his family teaching them how to fish and catch lobster. He was a natural captain on a boat and thrived in that role. Mike left a legacy in so many places, including his career, volunteer activities and with his lifelong Terre Haute friends and Lake County friends, but most importantly, with his family. He was an amazing husband and father and will be missed forever. A viewing will be held Friday, July 22, 2016 at Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, FL from 6-8 pm. A service will be held on Saturday, July 23 at 11 am at Morrison United Methodist Church, Leesburg, FL. A reception will be held in the fellowship hall following the service. Burial will be Monday, July 25, 2016 at 11 am at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida, where he will be buried with Military Honors. For those who wish to honor Mike, donations can be made to the Mike Stone Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Educational Foundation of Lake County, 2045 Pruitt Street, Leesburg, FL 34748, or to the For Kid's Sake Foundation at www.MaliaCrushesCancer.com.

Michael R. Stone

December 8, 1952 - July 16, 2016