April 2, 2017
April 2, 2017
In Memory Of Michael Dean Cifers
Day Of
Remembrance Feb. 12, 2017
En0n Baptist Church Oxford, N.C.
Time, daily it is a part of our lives. Sometimes it slips away too quickly, other times it seems to take forever. Always it helps to write the pages of our lives, who we are, where we're going and where we've been. It is the thing that gives us yesterdays, todays, and hopes for tomorrow, but it is God that holds time in his hands. It is God that knows, and He alone, how much time we have.
A native of Granville County, Michael Dean Cifers was born on July 31, 1948. He was the second of four sons given into the care of Lee and Julia Woodlief Cifers. God gave Michael 68 years on this earth and on Oct. 21, 2016, God called him home. In that 68 years, Michael accomplished a lot.
Because he was a very small child, his mother kept him home until the age of 7, when he began elementary school at C. G. Credle School in Granville County. Michael loved to explore and grew to love the outdoors. Once when he was 9 years old, he decided that playing Davie Crockett in the woods would be more fun than going to school. I still smile as I recall the story Michael told me that day as he laughed out loud.
"When I heard the twig snap and felt Daddy's hand on the scruff of my neck, I knew I was in trouble. I was caught with nowhere to hide! Careful as I had been, Daddy had found me out!" "Let's go behind the woodshed, son," Daddy said. "Then he took off his belt and wore my Davie Crockett breeches out, with me still in them! It was that look of disappointment on Daddy's face that hurt me more than the thrashing I got." Michael believed his father when Lee Cifers said, "Son this hurts me more than it will you." Never forgetting the look of disappointment his father's face showed that day, Michael never skipped school again, and graduated from J.F. Webb High School in June of 1967. In May 1968, Michael was drafted into the United States Army, serving in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon. Here he distinguished himself as a data analyst specialist, maintaining the secret files of the United States of America. During his military service, this 20 year old young man received a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and an Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. Receiving an Honorable discharge in May 1970, Michael returned home to Granville County.
He worked at Burlington Industries as a Lab Technician, then Durham Hosiery Mill as a Shipping and Receiving Clerk. In 1977, he worked for Certainteed Corporation as a lead operator in various areas of the plant. While working at Certainteed, Michael also received an Associate of Applied Science Degree and graduated from Vance Granville Community College in 1979.
In 1995, Michael left Certainteed Corporation and began a new job with the State of North Carolina Department of Correction. He became a Certified Correctional Officer for the Division of Prisons until his retirement in 2010.
I met Michael in the year 2000, where I also worked as a certified Correctional Officer at the same prison. After a motorcycle ride across the Blue Ridge Mountains where He proposed, we were married in September of 2002 at Enon Baptist Church.
Michael never lost his love of the great outdoors. As his wife, I enjoyed many adventures with him, including a helicopter the Smokie Mountains of Tennessee on our honeymoon. We Parasailed over the Atlantic Ocean on a vacation (shark trolling I called it). We laughed while whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, N.C. with Mike's brother Tim, and his wife Tommy.
On another adventure, we went on an airboat ride at the edge of the Everglades in Florida. During that trip Mike saw a baby armadillo for the first time in his life. "Look at that! He's the most fascinating little creature I ever saw! I want one!" Mike's excitement was that of a child.
We canoed, fished, hunted, and camped may times, enjoying all of God's glory together. But nothing was more pleasant than having my back against a tree, holding the hand of my sweetheart as we sat side by side, listening to the rustle of the wind, feeling it's chill, watching as the beautiful fall leaves rained down on us from the forest canopy above.
"Look at that," Mike would whisper quietly to me, his eyes full of wonder. "It's beautiful." I'd nod my head and agree. "How can anybody not believe?" Mike would question. Michael felt and knew the responsibility we have to our creator, our Savior, our God. At the end of hunting time, we'd take our deer home and I would cook it and spread a banquet table for us to eat. "Honey that's the best deer roast I ever ate," Mike would compliment me. I'd smile a happy smile and kiss him on the top of his bald head. With his mouth still full of deer roast he'd return my gesture with a brush of his lips. "Thank you for cooking such a good meal," he'd tell me.
Micheal Dean Cifers loved and appreciated everything about life and demonstrated the love of his Lord by the way he lived his life. It is fitting that God called Mike home in the fall of the year on October 21, 2016. Fall was his favorite time of the year. Time is precious and bitter sweet.
Though he is no longer here with us, I fancy seeing Mike smile and I feel his excitement in his knowledge of eternal life. I can imagine Mike sharing a story with David the shepherd boy, or Noah, or perhaps Daniel. As the Lord's blessings are bestowed upon him, I can picture Mike rubbing the head of a lion's furry mane, or cuddling a baby armadillo in his arms.
The banquet table of the Lord is spread now, where all the saints are gathering round. There are a few empty places there, reserved for us, if only we believe.
Though my beloved Michael is no longer here with us I can still hear his whispered words, "Look at this. Come look at this. How can anybody not believe? Look what God has done."
Hearing his beckoning call, "Come see. Come see." I look a little closer. I see that God created a clean heart in Michael Dean Cifers and renewed his spirit. He fell peacefully asleep that day and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Michael now bask in the love and splendor of our Lord, in that heavenly home, where time is no more.
I was blessed to have been his wife.
Day Of
Remembrance Feb. 12, 2017
En0n Baptist Church Oxford, N.C.
Time, daily it is a part of our lives. Sometimes it slips away too quickly, other times it seems to take forever. Always it helps to write the pages of our lives, who we are, where we're going and where we've been. It is the thing that gives us yesterdays, todays, and hopes for tomorrow, but it is God that holds time in his hands. It is God that knows, and He alone, how much time we have.
A native of Granville County, Michael Dean Cifers was born on July 31, 1948. He was the second of four sons given into the care of Lee and Julia Woodlief Cifers. God gave Michael 68 years on this earth and on Oct. 21, 2016, God called him home. In that 68 years, Michael accomplished a lot.
Because he was a very small child, his mother kept him home until the age of 7, when he began elementary school at C. G. Credle School in Granville County. Michael loved to explore and grew to love the outdoors. Once when he was 9 years old, he decided that playing Davie Crockett in the woods would be more fun than going to school. I still smile as I recall the story Michael told me that day as he laughed out loud.
"When I heard the twig snap and felt Daddy's hand on the scruff of my neck, I knew I was in trouble. I was caught with nowhere to hide! Careful as I had been, Daddy had found me out!" "Let's go behind the woodshed, son," Daddy said. "Then he took off his belt and wore my Davie Crockett breeches out, with me still in them! It was that look of disappointment on Daddy's face that hurt me more than the thrashing I got." Michael believed his father when Lee Cifers said, "Son this hurts me more than it will you." Never forgetting the look of disappointment his father's face showed that day, Michael never skipped school again, and graduated from J.F. Webb High School in June of 1967. In May 1968, Michael was drafted into the United States Army, serving in Washington, D.C. at the Pentagon. Here he distinguished himself as a data analyst specialist, maintaining the secret files of the United States of America. During his military service, this 20 year old young man received a Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, and an Expert Badge with Rifle Bar. Receiving an Honorable discharge in May 1970, Michael returned home to Granville County.
He worked at Burlington Industries as a Lab Technician, then Durham Hosiery Mill as a Shipping and Receiving Clerk. In 1977, he worked for Certainteed Corporation as a lead operator in various areas of the plant. While working at Certainteed, Michael also received an Associate of Applied Science Degree and graduated from Vance Granville Community College in 1979.
In 1995, Michael left Certainteed Corporation and began a new job with the State of North Carolina Department of Correction. He became a Certified Correctional Officer for the Division of Prisons until his retirement in 2010.
I met Michael in the year 2000, where I also worked as a certified Correctional Officer at the same prison. After a motorcycle ride across the Blue Ridge Mountains where He proposed, we were married in September of 2002 at Enon Baptist Church.
Michael never lost his love of the great outdoors. As his wife, I enjoyed many adventures with him, including a helicopter the Smokie Mountains of Tennessee on our honeymoon. We Parasailed over the Atlantic Ocean on a vacation (shark trolling I called it). We laughed while whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River in Bryson City, N.C. with Mike's brother Tim, and his wife Tommy.
On another adventure, we went on an airboat ride at the edge of the Everglades in Florida. During that trip Mike saw a baby armadillo for the first time in his life. "Look at that! He's the most fascinating little creature I ever saw! I want one!" Mike's excitement was that of a child.
We canoed, fished, hunted, and camped may times, enjoying all of God's glory together. But nothing was more pleasant than having my back against a tree, holding the hand of my sweetheart as we sat side by side, listening to the rustle of the wind, feeling it's chill, watching as the beautiful fall leaves rained down on us from the forest canopy above.
"Look at that," Mike would whisper quietly to me, his eyes full of wonder. "It's beautiful." I'd nod my head and agree. "How can anybody not believe?" Mike would question. Michael felt and knew the responsibility we have to our creator, our Savior, our God. At the end of hunting time, we'd take our deer home and I would cook it and spread a banquet table for us to eat. "Honey that's the best deer roast I ever ate," Mike would compliment me. I'd smile a happy smile and kiss him on the top of his bald head. With his mouth still full of deer roast he'd return my gesture with a brush of his lips. "Thank you for cooking such a good meal," he'd tell me.
Micheal Dean Cifers loved and appreciated everything about life and demonstrated the love of his Lord by the way he lived his life. It is fitting that God called Mike home in the fall of the year on October 21, 2016. Fall was his favorite time of the year. Time is precious and bitter sweet.
Though he is no longer here with us, I fancy seeing Mike smile and I feel his excitement in his knowledge of eternal life. I can imagine Mike sharing a story with David the shepherd boy, or Noah, or perhaps Daniel. As the Lord's blessings are bestowed upon him, I can picture Mike rubbing the head of a lion's furry mane, or cuddling a baby armadillo in his arms.
The banquet table of the Lord is spread now, where all the saints are gathering round. There are a few empty places there, reserved for us, if only we believe.
Though my beloved Michael is no longer here with us I can still hear his whispered words, "Look at this. Come look at this. How can anybody not believe? Look what God has done."
Hearing his beckoning call, "Come see. Come see." I look a little closer. I see that God created a clean heart in Michael Dean Cifers and renewed his spirit. He fell peacefully asleep that day and woke up in the arms of Jesus. Michael now bask in the love and splendor of our Lord, in that heavenly home, where time is no more.
I was blessed to have been his wife.
