Captain Lawrence Michael “Mike” Lavin, United States Navy (Ret.), 88, passed away surrounded by loving family members on October 14, 2023. Mike was born in Seminole, Oklahoma on February 18, 1935 to Margaret Regina O’Hara and Thomas A. Lavin.

After his father passed away in 1943, the family moved to Parsons, Kansas, where he graduated from Parsons High School, Class of 1952. He entered the Navy in 1953 through the Reserve Officers Candidate Program and was commissioned an Ensign in 1956. During that time, he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Pittsburg State University, where he was a member of the basketball team that reached the NAIA final four in 1956.

His first tour of duty was with the Amphibious Force Pacific, where he served in a variety of assignments from 1956 until 1959. Mike then went to the Naval Reserve Center, Decatur, Illinois, and served as commanding officer until his release from active duty in 1962. During that time he completed his Masters Degree at the University of Illinois. For the next five years he was affiliated with a number of Naval Reserve Units in Kansas City, while teaching civics and government and coaching basketball, football, and track at Argentine High School.

In 1967, Mike returned to active duty as the Commanding Officer of the Naval and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Lexington, Kentucky. He then reported to the staff of the Commander, Naval Surface Reserve, Omaha, Nebraska in 1969 and served as the Naval Reserve Recruiting Director for the next four years.

He was then ordered to the office of the Director of Naval Reserve on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in 1973 where he served first as Special Assistant for Manpower and later as Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Reserve.He was promoted to Captain. Mike then assumed the command of Naval Reserve Readiness Command, Region EIGHTEEN, in 1978. He retired from active duty in July of 1981. Kansas City Mayor Richard Berkley declared July 18, 1981 as “Mike Lavin Day” in honor of a job well done serving his country.

After retirement, Mike returned to the classroom where he headed up the N.J.R.O.T.C. program at Shawnee Mission West High School, but also taught students at Shawnee Mission South, East and North. He retired from teaching in 1997. Upon retirement he authored a textbook used by the Navy to teach N.J. R.O.T.C. programs across the country.

Anyone who knows Mike Lavin knows that his career was a big part of his life. However, the most important and meaningful part was the family he built with the love of his life, Carol Sue Ellis, of Parsons, Kansas. Mike and Carol Sue married in 1957 in Coronado, California and that is where their adventures began. They lived in 6 states but have probably visited every one of them. They have traveled the world as each other's constant companion. Together, they raised four children, Larry, David, Jim, and Annie. Family is everything to Mike and Carol Sue and they instilled that value in each of their children.  They are very proud of each member, which also includes 10 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren and one on the way. They set the bar very high for having a successful, loving, and faith-filled marriage.

Mike was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister Margaret Ann Neth (Dale), and brother, Tom Lavin. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 66 years, Carol Sue, son Lawrence Michael Lavin, Jr.(Karen), David Ellis Lavin (Caroline), James Edward Lavin (D’Lise), and Anne Elizabeth Lavin Wehrman (Luke). Grandchildren: John Lavin (Mahleah), Kelly Lavin, Erin Lavin Flood (Mike), Paul Lavin, Steven Lavin, Michael Lavin (Erin), Kyle Lavin (Cassidy), Abigail Wehrman, Noah Wehrman, and Joseph Wehrman. Great-Grand Children: Tariq Lavin, Xavier Lavin, Maeve Lavin, Sullivan Flood, Callahan Lavin, Stella Lavin,Virginia Flood,and Zelie Lavin.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. with the Funeral Mass following at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 20, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 11300 W. 103rd St. Overland Park, KS. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. at Resurrection Catholic Cemetery, Lenexa, KS.

Memorial contributions in Mike's name may be made to: The American Cancer Society.    https://www.cancer.org