Michael Calmes

Michael Ray Calmes passed away on June 6, 2022 after a valiant battle with COPD. Michael was born to Ray and Dorothy Calmes in Falfurrias, Texas on August 31, 1955. He lived in Falfurrias with his parents and sister, Sharon, until the death of their mother in 1957. Michael and family moved to Houston in 1960 when his dad married Patricia Hammons who loved Michael and Sharon as her own until her death in 2013. The family attended South Main Baptist Church where Michael made a profession of faith. Within a few years, they worshipped at West University Baptist Church where Michael was a member of the Chapel Choir. Later, as an adult, Michael was honored to serve the church as a deacon until he moved to Oklahoma. In 1974, Michael enlisted in the US Navy and served until 1976. After the death of his father in 1978, he decided to enlist in the US Army where he served in Korea, the US and Germany.

Upon Michael’s discharge from the US Army, he used his military training to work as a diesel mechanic in the Houston area. While attending West University Baptist Church, he met and married Janine Wallace in 1989. During the late 1980’s Michael began taking AutoCad and networking courses to facilitate his entry into the world of network engineering. Over the course of his career, Michael earned multiple network certifications to expand his skills and competencies.

Michael moved to Oklahoma to work with a telecommunications company. While in Oklahoma, Michael married Teresa Mangus in 2007. In 2015, Michael convinced Teresa to abandon the frigid winters and frequent tornados common in the Tulsa, Oklahoma region in order to move to Sinton, near Corpus Christi, Texas. As luck would have it, they experienced Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Tropical Storm Nicholas in 2021, and Winter Storm Uri in February 2021 complete with snow, ice and power outages while in Sinton.

Michael’s interests were wide-ranging. He developed a love of fishing at his father’s side and continued pursuing that sport whenever time and opportunity allowed. He was also a life-long lover of fast cars. Michael loved attending NHRA Races at the Houston Raceway Park in Baytown and was an avid follower of Indy car races. He remembered with fondness the special privilege of attending the Indianapolis 500 in person. And there was room in his heart for all things NASCAR. Michael had a special love for Formula 1 racing. He and Teresa had planned on attending the Formula 1 races at the Circuit Americas track outside of Austin this coming Fall.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Dorothy Calmes and his second mother Patricia Hammons Calmes. He is survived by his wife Teresa Calmes, sister Sharon Calmes Benka, niece Trisha Kennedy and her husband Danny, great nephews Soren and Liam, great nieces Addison and Harper, former wife Janene Wallace Calmes and numerous Calmes and Hammons/Penn cousins.

It was Michael’s wish to be buried at the National Cemetery in Houston. Final arrangements are currently pending and will be announced at a later date