Michael Anthony Owings, Sr.

There is no way to summarize a man's life in a single page. No collection of words can fully capture all that he was, all that he accomplished, or all that he meant to so many people. A man's legacy is not measured simply by the years he lived or the things he built, but by the lives he touched, the lessons he passed along, and the countless people he influenced and mentored, often without ever realizing the impact he had. That is the legacy of Mike Owings.

Known to those who loved him as Mike, Pops, Sr., or PawPaw, he was a man of few words, strong convictions, an incredible work ethic, and a sense of humor all his own. He was a man who could seemingly do anything, fix anything, or figure out just about any problem put in front of him. But more than anything, he was a man whose heart belonged to the people he loved.

Mike was born September 1, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Lois and Harvey Owings. He graduated from Nathan Hale High School in 1968 and joined the United States Marine Corps in September 1970.

Much of the man Mike would become was shaped during his younger years, spending summers working alongside his grandfather in the oil fields around Drumright, Oklahoma, on the Katy Brown oil lease, which later became Texaco. It was there that he learned the value of hard work, developed his mechanical abilities, and cultivated the unmistakable sense of humor that would stay with him throughout his life.

Following his military service, Mike spent time working in manufacturing before beginning a long career in the automotive service industry. Through hard work, experience, and determination, he worked his way from line technician to parts and service manager.

In 2007, Mike and his son Michael began a new chapter together when Fabrication Solutions, a Tulsa-based manufacturing company, was created. What began as a father-and-son venture grew into a successful business employing more than 70 people. For nearly twenty years, they worked side by side, sharing the daily challenges, frustrations, accomplishments, and victories that come with building a business. Along the way, Mike passed on a lifetime of knowledge, experience, and wisdom, not only to his son but to countless others who had the opportunity to work alongside him.

Mike was the original do-it-yourself guy. If something needed to be built, modified, repaired, or improved, he simply figured out how to do it. Take it apart, study it, research it, make a part, buy a part, put it back together, and repeat the process until it worked the way he wanted. To Mike, there was almost always a solution. You just had to be willing to work hard enough to find it.

Some people might have called Mike stubborn, and perhaps he was, to a degree. But those who knew him best understood that what others saw as stubbornness was really determination. He was not a man easily discouraged, and once he set his mind to something, he was rarely willing to accept that it couldn't be done.

That determination was evident in the things he loved to do. Mike had a lifelong passion for auto racing in nearly every form, particularly drag racing, sprint cars, midgets, and micros. He loved the competition, but perhaps even more, he loved the innovation behind it. The challenge of trying something new, making something better, or finding that small advantage that others had overlooked was what made it exciting to him. He also enjoyed working on old cars and had a passion for building, restoring, and collecting firearms. Whatever the project, he approached it with the same curiosity, creativity, and determination that defined so much of his life.

Mike was also a big Oklahoma Sooners fan, especially OU football and softball. He loved watching his Sooners compete and was always proud to cheer them on. Boomer Sooner!

Mike had a unique way of looking at the world. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke, you would be wise to listen. Even if what he said didn't seem particularly important at the time, chances were that someday it would. He had a remarkable ability to see beyond the moment, to anticipate what was coming, and to recognize things others had yet to consider. He taught more through his actions and example than he ever did through words, and many of his lessons were understood only with the passage of time.

For all his accomplishments, abilities, and interests, Mike's greatest love was his family.

He shared 42 years of marriage with the love of his life, Peggy Owings. Together, they built a life and blended a family that included Mike's son, Michael, and Peggy's children, Freddy and Christi. His family grew to include seven grandchildren: Jake (Jasmine), Jesse (Brittany), Josh (Karen), Chase (Taylor), Oksana (Irving), Harley (Cassie), and his pride and joy, Cole Owings. He was also blessed with 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mike is survived by his beloved wife of 42 years, Peggy Owings; his children, Christi Cotton, Freddy Cotton, and Michael (DeeDee) Owings; his seven grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren; his sister, Pam (Phil) Fegley; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

While Mike may not have always been a man who expressed himself with a lot of words, there was never any question where his heart belonged. It belonged to the people he loved. He showed that love in the way he worked, the things he did, the problems he solved, and the countless ways he was there when someone needed him.

For his son Michael, nearly twenty years of working together created a relationship that went far beyond father and son or business partners. They shared the everyday experience of building something together, learning from one another, and facing whatever challenges the day might bring.

At the end of the workday, they had a simple tradition. One would call the other and ask, "Well - Did you win today?"

It was a simple question, but it carried a meaning all its own. Some days were victories, some days were struggles, and some days you just did the best you could. But there was always tomorrow, another opportunity to figure something out, overcome an obstacle, or find a way to win.

Those calls will be missed more than words can express.

Mike worked hard his entire life. From a young boy in the oil fields of Drumright to a Marine, a mechanic, a manager, a business owner, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend, he gave his time, his energy, and his abilities to the things and people that mattered to him.

He leaves behind far more than a lifetime of accomplishments. He leaves behind a family who loved him, a business he helped build, countless people who are better for having known him, and lessons that will continue to be passed from one generation to the next.

The machines will keep running. The work will continue. Problems will still need solving, and there will always be another challenge waiting around the corner. And somewhere in those moments, in the determination to find a way, in the willingness to try something different, and in the quiet satisfaction of a job well done, a part of Mike will always remain.

He spent his life working, building, teaching, and finding a way.

And now, Dad, your work is done.

You won.

Go rest.