Michael William Monahan

Michael “Mike” Monahan lived a life dedicated to God, his family and his community; and his community was far reaching! While at Helix High School in La Mesa, CA, where he was the ASB President and the starting left guard (with a nick name of “Block”), he met his future wife, Dianne Evers, and her family. He quickly fit in as he helped them build the first memorial to the Vietnam veterans and ran the sound for the family’s folk music group in support of the country and the troops. He graduated with high honors from UCSD with a degree in microbiology. He moved his family to Taylor, Arizona in 1975 where he would spend the next 20 years teaching, coaching, and running a family business. In these early years in our community, he and his wife started bringing unwed mothers into their home to give them a stable family and warm place to live. When a large family of refugees from Vietnam needed a home, the Monahan family shared their own. When a family of seven from Texas found themselves homeless, they were welcomed by the Monahans. When people of need were brought into the path of Dianne and Mike, the found comfort in the real help they provided. Mike created a steady and solid base for the many wayward teens, foster children, widowed friends and young men in crisis who all crossed the Monahan thresh-hold. He supported and encouraged his wife as she founded pregnancy centers, backed her when she wanted to reach those across oceans, and championed her in her teaching and counseling.  Always in the background, he gave generously of his time, funds, and skills with a desire to make a difference in the lives around him. His life would have been full and wonderfully lived if he stopped there, but Mike was deeply involved with his large family, pro-life business, and the community. He was always ready to help with any need and yet didn’t miss a chance to lay on the floor to play with the youngest of his grandchildren. At work he helped to save thousands of babies by designing educational items that showed the humanity of the unborn.  His latest passion was serving as Captain of the Navajo County Search and Rescue.  In his spare time, he loved to hike with his buddies, camp with his beloved, and chase after the sunset. Mike was a constant and firm presence for all who knew him, a strong harbor of peace for troubled lives, a guide and continuous help for his children, a loving and kind grandfather to his grandchildren, and, above all, a pillar of support for his wife. He will be dearly missed by his surviving wife, 5 children and spouses, 26 grandchildren, his brother Billy and his sister Katherine, and by his community of thousands.A service celebrating Mike's life will be held at the White Mountain Bible Church, 3171 E. Show Low Lake Road., Show Low, AZ on April 2, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Living Hope Centers, a ministry Dinah started, Mike supported, and they both believed in with all of their heart.  https://www.gofundme.com/michaelmonahan