Mike

Palomo

Miguel "Mike" Palomo passed away on Saturday, Aug 26, 2023 in his hometown of Harlingen Texas, just a few weeks shy of his eighty-ninth birthday. He courageously battled numerous complex medical issues with his usual witty sense of humor and unwavering determination.

He was born on September 20, 1934 in Crystal City, Texas, the second of six children. Despite working as a migrant farmworker after the untimely death of his father, he excelled in academics, sports, and was a talented artist. He provided the artwork for his high school yearbook and pitched for the high school baseball team. He acquired tuberculosis as a teen and went to the state sanatorium where he met the love of his life, Betty Gene McKinney. The rest, as they say, is history. The two married and became TB nurses. Mike and Betty worked at South Texas hospital. He retired as an RN, after 45 years of service.

His family and friends will forever remember his intelligence, humor, devotion to his wife and family, and his love of astronomy. He could gaze out at the night sky and tell you about the constellations & planets with astounding accuracy and excitement. Mike was an avid bird watcher whose love of nature was reflected in his gardening and devotion to his dog Venus. He could fix anything and was known to show off his latest purchases of power tools and share his plans to rebuild or renovate his home.

He is preceded in death by his father, Gertrudis, his mother, Isabel, his brothers, Paul and Juan, and his son, Edmund, and daughter, Patricia. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty, and his children, Mike Jr. (Lynette), David, Mary (Clay), Ruben (Christina), Melissa (Sergio), Michele, Melinda (Shane), Saul (Melissa), and Teresa (Brian), numerous grandchildren & great grandchildren who loved him to the moon and back.

Fittingly, his favorite song was "My Way" by Frank Sinatra.

"And now the end is here

And so I face that final curtain

My friend, I'll make it clear

I'll state my case, of which I'm certain I've lived a life that's full

I've traveled each and every highway And more, much more

I did it, I did it my way"

And he did just that. He did it his way.

Funeral arrangements will be handled by Trinity Funeral Home in Harlingen, Texas. Visitation will be from 1:00-9:00 pm with Rosary at 7:00 pm on Thursday August 31, 2023. Burial will be Friday September 1, 2023 at 2:00pm at Heavenly Grace Funeral Home and Memorial Park in La Feria, Texas. Funeral procession will begin at Trinity Funeral Home to Heavenly Grace.