Michael Lee Meredith

Michael Meredith, 64, passed away unexpectedly on July 19, 2022, in Newbury, Ohio. He is survived by his wife, Diane (Wakeley) Meredith of Newbury; daughter and son-in-law, Courtney and John Johnson of Dorset; son, Andy Meredith; grandsons, Benjamin and Henry Johnson; sister, Marilyn (Dan) Bradley, of Matamoras, PA; nieces Jenny and Katrina Bradley, and nephew, Daniel; cousins Diane (Rick) Schroeder and John Delsantro; and former wife, Linda Meredith, of Willoughby. Michael also leaves behind many, many angry trolls on Facebook, whom he was very fond of feeding.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Lillian (Delsantro) Meredith.

Mike’s life is best told as a story, or perhaps a series of essays. He started life in Willoughby, Ohio, which is a very different town now than it was then. He grew up roaming the neighborhood on his bicycle, causing only enough trouble with his friends that no one would tell his dad, and spent much of his free time at the YMCA. Told from a young age “You can’t teach tall”, Mike overcame his nickname “Meathook” to eventually play as the fifth player for the Jackson 5 during a game of pickup basketball.

He graduated from Willoughby South High School in 1976, and went on to secure a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and a Master’s Degree in Geography. He was neither an accountant, nor a geographer, but no one cared, least of all Mike. He was an excellent father to his children, teaching them which movies were worth watching over and over, how to love Led Zeppelin despite having to listen to Barbara Streisand way too much, and how to memorize every last line of every episode of Seinfeld.

Mike put his geography skills to work in 2008 and 2009, when he went on a months’ long, cross-country road trip that ended in an extended stay in Napa Valley, California. Documented through photos, videos, and written essays, this once-in-a-lifetime trip was a long-held dream. After a decades’ long career in lawn care and landscape work, Mike became a certified Wine Tasting Instructor, and stayed in California until after the birth of his first grandson, Ben. After leaving Napa, he spent several years being an amazing dad and “Boba”, helping his daughter’s family to start a small farm and gut a 200-year-old farmhouse.

Mike married the love of his life, Diane, in 2015. They took countless trips with their dogs, Daisy and Sadie (aka Satan), and survived rehabbing their entire home together. They loved quirky adventures, obscure and not-so-obscure music, bad golf, and all things family. They laughed often and loved being each other’s Person.

Taught from an early age by his mother to check the weather frequently, Mike was a great lover of The Weather Channel (seriously - his phone has received nine alerts from the app today alone and we’re not sure how to shut them off), all things sports, building projects, cooking, traveling, art, obscure documentaries, and being with his family. He was adored by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, grandsons, and nearly everyone he met, worked with, and befriended in his much-too-short life.

Family, friends, and all who knew him are asked to join us for a Celebration of Life on August 21, 2022 at Davis-Babcock Funeral Home, in Willoughby, Ohio. Visitation hours will precede the Celebration, from 2pm – 4pm, and the Celebration of Life will begin immediately after.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that anyone who wishes to do so please share as many stories and pictures of Mike with us as you possibly can. We loved him dearly and wish to do everything possible to capture his stories and memories to share for years and years to come.