Mike Daniel was Loved, Tender-hearted, a Farmer, an Artist, AND….
It's been three years since we lost my brother. Re-sharing my blog and his obituary.
Today is the third year since my brother left us. It is a sad time of year. I don’t know how to write about it or talk about it so here is a portion from his obituary which was a collaboration between Mom, John Phillips, Barry and I. It’s a beautiful picture of Mike and who he was.
I’m including the blog I published after his memorial service too. I needed to write about how and why he left us. Both sides of his story were important to tell.
One thing I’ve learned in these three years is that Mike’s death does not define his life. We have 53 years of Mike’s rich and glorious life to remember and celebrate.
Mike Daniel had a deep soulful singing voice. He was a song writer too. He could fix anything. He had friends all over the place. The twinkle in his eye is legendary.
This is Mike singing my most requested song, Angel Flying too Close to the Ground. His friend Pro is sitting beside him. They played and sang together a lot. ♥️
Mike Daniel Caudle Obituary:
February 26, 1968 - March 1, 2021
Mike Daniel Caudle, 53, was a talented, tender-hearted and well-loved son, brother, uncle and friend. He was born February 26, 1968, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from Parkland High School and was master of many trades. He owned his own concrete company for 15 years. He was a gifted creator who shared his talents through music, gardening, metal sculpting and any damn thing he put his heart into.
Mike was a kind and humble human being who learned to play the guitar at the ripe old age of 38. In 2006, he discovered he could sing. It was a passion he inherited from his family and he shared his talents at numerous events at, "Little Cedar," and especially with his family and friends at the "shop." He sang "My Rifle, My Pony, and Me" better than Dean Martin in Rio Bravo! He also enjoyed cooking, especially for those he loved. Many times he would share what he cooked with the homeless, shut-ins and the elderly in the community. He respected the land and was committed to growing the healthiest food possible. If you discover Kale plants growing in your yard, Mike may have secretly scattered the seeds there. He was an old soul who devoted himself to learning, preserving and educating all those around him. He was drawn to the older generation and enjoyed learning from them. Mike loved being in nature. He and Cindy volunteered frequently at Turtle Island Preserve in Boone. They were an awesome team and loved hiking and camping in the mountains. Mike was the best camp-fire cook. In his earlier years, he was a world traveler. He did some bartending while living with his sister in Spain and later lived in London for a short period of time. Mike also cared dearly for all animals. At six years old he rode like the wind on his pony Coco. He loved being around horses, and a few years ago enjoyed riding the trails with his quarter horse, Red. He raised and loved several good dogs, especially Bingo and Banjo.
Mike had his quirks, too, but he wouldn't have been Mike without them. He only believed in using cash and he couldn't stand to wear flip flops. His sense of direction was sorely lacking, resulting in many extended trips to places he wasn't supposed to be, and he would never admit he didn't know how he got there. These things are just a couple of the many, many, many quirks that endeared Mike to all who knew him.
Mike leaves behind many broken hearts and will be missed so very, very much.
March 12, 2021 blog post:
Mike died March 1st - 2 days after his 53rd birthday. We had his memorial service on Saturday March 6th. It was the most beautiful and moving service I’ve ever experienced. You could absolutely feel and almost see the love hanging in the air. We heard countless stories of Mike’s goodness. Everyone mentioned the devotion he had for his family, his tribe. He was a “tree hugging dirt worshipper.” He was a loyal friend. He was humble and he was tender-hearted. He was beloved by many and he had a legendary twinkle in his eye. We told funny and heartwarming stories. And none of these stories were exaggerations. He was all of these things and he was a beautiful soul.
But we didn’t tell the whole story.
Mike was all of those things AND he struggled with depression and alcoholism.
He could not see his worth.
He could not tell us what tortured him and he didn’t know how to ask for help. He didn’t have the words and maybe he didn’t think anyone could help him. I think he was ashamed that he couldn’t help himself.
He suffered from something invisible to us and we could not get to it.
He tried hard to drown his pain but that didn’t work either.
I used to think suicide was a selfish act. I was so ignorant. People who choose suicide are not thinking of anything other than ending that pain. They don’t see any other way.
Suicide, mental health and addiction are so hard to talk about. The more we talk about it, the more people will hear our talk and they might reach out when they need to or at least understand they aren’t alone.
I wish I had another chance to give my brother a huge hug, squeeze him tight and make him know how much he means to me.
Mike Daniel was kind-hearted lover of nature who was also a talented singer, songwriter, farmer, animal trainer, friend, son, brother, partner, cousin, nephew, grandson,
AND a depressed man who lost hope and couldn’t see his worth.
He was all of these things
AND he was loved.
If you are depressed and need help, please call someone. 1-800-273-8255
There are organizations and professionals ready to help.
800-273-8255 is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741).
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention afsp.org (There is a chapter in every state.)
To learn how to help prevent suicide – go to QPRinstitute.com
So sorry for your loss. Too many exit too soon. Beautiful life.
Love you, Vikki.