Michael J. McGraw

Michael J. McGraw passed away August 23, 2016, due to an accident in San Diego, Calif.

Mike was a longtime resident of Brooklyn, moving to Tampa, Fla. in 2012. He was a true entrepreneur owning many businesses in the Irish Hills. He started his career at General Motors. He was an owner of an excavating business, used car lot with a repair garage, and successful restaurant. He later operated a group home for senior adults while maintaining many rental properties throughout Michigan and Florida.

Mike touched many lives in so many different ways. Throughout his life experiences and all who knew him benefited from that in some way or another.

In 2007, Mike’s friend and life partner, Jack Sutton passed away. It took a while for Mike to adjust to his passing. Of recent, he had begun to travel and enjoyed many friends in Michigan, San Diego and Florida. He was thoroughly enjoying life again. Mike’s journey in life has sadly ended and he will be missed by many.

Mike is survived by his sister, Shirley (Jim) Paxton, Rockport, Texas; brother, Robert Payton, Wixom, Mich.; sister, Kathleen Peterson and John Cameron, Fenton, Mich.; many nieces and nephews; and many dear friends in San Diego, Michigan and Florida. He was predeceased by life partner, Jack Sutton; parents, James and Edna McGraw, Virginia Payton; and sister, Sharon Colby.

A memorial for Mike will be held Nov. 12, 2016, with a mass at the Franciscan Center, Tampa. Interment Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Clearwater, Fla. Memorials in his memory have already been held in Brooklyn, Mich. and San Diego, Calif.

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