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Michael Petty, 31

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The family of Michael Petty wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to all of those who have given their support, compassion and love through this difficult time.

A special thanks to Carmen Johnson who organized the Friends of Mike Petty Go Fund Me and all of those who donated and shared their memories through it.

Thanks to the High Desert Humane Society and the Church of Christ for the food they provided the family. The shock of a sudden death can be paralyzing and, without you, we would not have been able to get through the last few weeks.

We would also like to thank Darlene Jonovich, of DJ’s Casa, and Udon McSpadden for helping make his memorial a true celebration of life.

Many members of our family and his co-workers traveled a great distance with little notice. You will never know how much it meant for all of you to be a part of that celebration.

To have lost Michael is heartbreaking, it is come as such a shock to us all — his life was far too brief.

Michael David Petty was/is 31 years old when he passed away April 18, 2019 near Superior, Ariz. 

He was a respiratory therapist at Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, Ariz.

He was a kind hearted man, loving son and father and loyal friend that lived his life taking care of others.

He was always the strong one, the man of the family and did what had to be done without complaint.

He was a fun-loving charismatic person with warm brown eyes and an electric smile.

He was a kid that never grew up. If you were lucky enough to know him, you were a better person because of him.

He made many friends in his short time here. He had friends from all walks of life. Some from childhood. Some from college.

He never met a stranger and if he knew you were having a bad day, he would go out of his way to make you smile.

He considered his co-workers as part of his extended family. He got to know each and every patient he cared for as an RT and their family. He treated them all with dignity and compassion and did his very best to ease pain and suffering, helping to save a few lives along the way.

He loved his family above all else. He was always there for his mother, making sure she had what she needed and was the father figure in his little brother’s life, taking him along on family outings and keeping him anytime he had a break from school. William said they were very best friends.

He was living with his girlfriend, Jenna DeGuiseppe, and her daughter, Aliyah, at the time of his passing. He called Jenna the best thing that ever happened to him and he loved Aaliyah like his own.

He is survived by his parents, Ellie and David Petty; his little brother and very best friend, William Petty; his Gram and Pop, Tom and Jane Hale; grandparents, C.M. and Rosemary Petty and Chuck Webster, and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Michael also leaves behind three small children, Gage, 8; Makenzie, 6; and MJ, 4. He loved his children with all of his heart and that was a very big heart. He did his best to be there for them even though he was exhausted from work or school.

They meant more to him than anything in the world.

These children will grow up never knowing the great man their father was. He touched the lives of so many people. He made a real difference while he was here and the world was a better place with him in it.

His children will always have a void in their lives and will never have his example to live by.

They will only know him through stories from the living.

It is up to us to tell them about him and keep his memory alive so that his goodness can live on through them.

If you knew Michael please share a story with us. Include as much detail as possible.

We will always remember the person we were blessed to have for 31 years and how wonderful he was. It is important for his children to know why he was so wonderful.

Send your memories to mikepetty.stories@gmail.com and it will be added to a collection for his children, family and friends.

A true celebration of his life!