Michael Gerald Wade
Michael “Mike” Gerald Wade, 67, of Tonkawa, passed away on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at Willow Haven Nursing Home in Tonkawa, OK after a prolonged illness. Mike was born on June 6, 1955, in Clovis, New Mexico, to Gerald A. Wade and Laquita J. Bellar. He grew up in New Mexico on a farm.
He married Carol Louise Smith and they had three children, Cody Len, Mikki Gayle, and Rachael Denise. Mike worked as a farmer in New Mexico for many years and also worked for 4-5 years as an emergency tech on ambulances. After farming became less profitable for him, he began driving a truck. He travelled all over the United States as a truck driver and worked for several different trucking firms. He also was an instructor teaching others how to drive a semi-tractor trailer.
It was during his days as a truck driving instructor, that he met his second wife, Terry L. Vanzandt. They were married on September 7, 2004, in Potter County, Texas. Terry and Mike moved to Tonkawa, OK about 2012. They drove together as a team until Terry’s health began to fail. In Tonkawa Mike did various mechanical odd jobs, but spent a lot of time mowing yards for others and came to be known as “Lawnmower Mike” as he helped many people. Terry died on February 5, 2018, at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City.
Mike was a member of the Tonkawa Church of Christ.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents, a sister Debra Diane Wade and his second wife, Terry L. Vanzandt Wade. He is survived by his son Cody Len Wade of Portales, New Mexico, and two daughters, Mikke Gayle Wade Long of Portales, New
Mexico, and Rachael Denise
Wade Tanner of Roswell, New Mexico. Family and friends would like to thank the workers at Willow Haven Nursing Home for the loving care they provided Mike during his stay at Willow Haven. A memorial service was held at the Tonkawa Church of Christ, Monday, Dec. 19, 2022, at 2:30 pm. Memorials in Mike’s memory may be made to the Tonkawa Church of Christ, Prison Ministry fund, at P.O. Box 444, Tonkawa, OK 74653