Frederick Alan "Mike" Cunningham

Frederick Alan "Mike" Cunningham, 87, passed away peacefully at the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home in Tyler, Texas after an extended illness. Just two weeks prior, Mike celebrated his 87th birthday surrounded by the warmth, laughter, and love of his family. Born to the late Porter Lee Cunningham and Pansy (Barrett) Lively, Mike spent his early years in Waco before moving to Tyler as a child. While officially named Frederick, family lore has it that there were simply too many "Freds" in the neighborhood—and as the story goes, those other Freds seemed to get into a bit too much trouble. Wanting to stand apart, young Frederick decided to adopt the name of the friendly dog next door, and "Mike" stuck with him for the rest of his life. Though his life and service would eventually take him across the globe, Mike's heart remained rooted in Tyler and the great state of Texas. Mike proudly dedicated a large portion of his life to serving his country in the United States Army, retiring after 24 years of service at the distinguished rank of Master Sergeant. His military career was a source of profound personal pride and took him to every corner of the world—including service in Massachusetts, Vietnam, Egypt, Iran, Austria, Italy, and Arlington, Virginia. Following his military retirement, Mike returned home to Texas, continuing his strong work ethic with the Texas Department of Labor, then as a Probation Officer, and later as an outside salesman for Aaxion in Tyler. While Mike saw the world, nothing mattered more to him than his family. He loved his wife, Jeanne Ann, more than anything in this life, and his pride in his children and grandchildren was boundless. He will be remembered for his steady presence, his fierce loyalty, and the deep devotion he showed to those he held dear. He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeanne Ann (Gore) Cunningham; his daughters, Mary Russell and partner Rick Patch, Christine Cunningham and her husband, Thomas Horgan, Trista Granberry and her husband Jeff; son Jeremy Ashley and his wife Christina; and his cherished granddaughters, Reagan Russell, Kaylee Sullivan, Maddie Wagner and Savannah Wagner. The family wishes to extend their deepest, heartfelt gratitude to the staff at the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home for the loving, respectful care they provided Mike, and for the honor they showed his military service in his final days. Memorial Donations: In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made in Mike's honor to the Watkins-Logan Texas State Veterans Home: https://epay.glo.texas.gov/VlbDonations/.

Frederick Alan "Mike" Cunningham

July 26, 1939 - August 12, 2026