Roy Michael Lunsford was born on February 24th, 1960 in Tampa, Florida. His parents were Roy Calvin Lunsford and Pearl Christine Headrick. His parents preceded him to their reward in Heaven a number of years ago. Mike grew up in Mango, Florida and graduated from Brandon High School in 1978. Then he entered the Air Force after high school and served at a military base in Denver, Colorado before being honorably discharged.

Mike grew up with a younger sister, Syndi, and a younger brother, Robert, (now deceased). Mike has a son, Roy Scott, who resides in Tampa. Mike leaves behind his adoring, faithful wife of 27 years. She remains in their Brandon home. His wife will miss him all of her remaining days on earth.

Mike's mother-in-law (Evelyn Illgen) adored him, also, and said that he was one of the kindest men she had ever known. Mike gave gifts, jewelry, flowers and cards to his mother-in-law as well as his own mom on every Mother's day. She reminisces that she loved him so much because he was so good to her daughter and they were so good for each other. Evelyn says that he was as sweet as any man could be and that he had a good sense of humor and that they enjoyed teasing each other.
I say this to show what a kind man he truly was. If your mother-in-law thinks you are a good person, then you must be.

He was Uncle Mike to Logan Butler, his wife Sammantha, Gerrit Butler, Margo Butler Hamade, her husband Cameron, Krystal Lunsford Abbot, Richie Solomon, and Brent Solomon.

Mike grew up in Mango and worshipped at Mango Church of Christ, now called Bay Area. This is where he met his wife 29 years ago, in 1990. Mark Hodges officiated at their wedding in 1992. Mike and April were nearly inseparable until death did them part. During his lifetime, Mike was a faithful member of Bay Area, Northwest, and Bell Shoals churches of Christ. He was the official greeter at the door of Bay Area Church of Christ every Sunday morning before Sunday School and worship service for six years there.

He obtained an AA in Theology from Faith Theological Academy in 1999. His studies broadened and deepened his spirituality and his understanding. He held a certificate in counseling from this seminary. Mike did free marriage counseling for some of his church friends.

He later worked at Hillsborough Community College's Hawk Radio as a meteorologist while obtaining his AA in Radio and TV Broadcasting. Roy had a two year internship with Storm Team 8 behind the scenes. For several years, he was an active member of the West Coast Meteorological Society, co-serving with his wife as chapter secretaries under then chapter President Andy Johnson. He was a weather forecaster from his home studio for a Christian Radio Station in Minnesota. That opportunity arose due to his connection with former Storm Team 8 meteorologist, Mace Michaels. He also worked for a television station in West Virginia for a short time. A moment of great joy came with the opportunity to sit with long time, well known, iconic former Channel 13 meteorologist Roy Leep.

Mike was an avid follower of weather storms, wind speed, tides, barometric pressure, humidity - you name the weather term. If you wanted to know what time it was going to rain at your house, all you needed was a call to him. His passion and knowledge for all things weather related was a true gift. He enjoyed watching weather/tornado chaser videos. He even had weather followers in other States, including some in Mississippi where he and the Hawk Radio Crew did a remote weather radio broadcast. He frequently posted on facebook about the weather and also posted inspirational quotes illustrated with beautiful nature scenes.

Let's address his name as some of you may be confused. For most of his career, Mike preferred "Roy," as his business name. "Roy" worked in customer service, such as sales and delivery and felt the name was more professional sounding. If you knew him as a child, worshipped with him at Mango, where he grew up, or were family, he was Mike. If you met him after high school, worked with him or worshipped with him at Bell Shoals, he was Roy. Each name still comes with sweet memories of a man who was kind with his words and passionate about what he loved.

If you enjoy Arizona Tea, you can thank Roy. He received a "Who's Who In Business Award" for bringing and establishing
Arizona Iced Tea to the Tampa Bay Area in the 1990's through diligent, courageous cold calling.

Roy enjoyed really corny vampire movies and British dramas. He also liked British mysteries, spy movies, adventure, comedy, science fiction, medical dramas, and police shows. His diversity of tastes in entertainment was surprising, as he loved "high brow" classic British author Jane Austin's "Sense and Sensibility," "Pride and Prejudice," and anything airing on Masterpiece Mystery or Masterpiece Theater, as well as slap stick, low brow British comedy stunts by Mr. Bean, and any truly tacky low budget spoofs, like "Svengoolie."

He also enjoyed any televised college or professional competition and any sports radio program. He even admitted to calling in and talking on sports radio from the church shortly before his wedding.

Mike was truly an avid sports fan, especially in his younger years. He was well known on talk radio as "Laker Roy." Even more so than being a Los Angeles Lakers fan, he was a devoted San Fransisco 49ers fan all his life. Other teams he loved were the Florida State Seminoles, the Tampa Bay Lightening and Tampa Bay Mutiny. Mike and April enjoyed going to see the Tampa Tritons roller hockey games during the two brief years they were a franchise.

Mike was like the pied piper or St. Francis in the way he attracted animals (including a giraffe) and they loved him. Mike developed a love for nature and the environment after an anniversary cruise at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

He and his wife were masters of several dogs over the years. He also loved cats, growing up in a home that preferred cats over dogs. Thankfully, he was a cat lover who became an even greater dog lover, too, at first for his wife's sake, but later on his own.

Mike listened to Christian music on The Joy FM every morning and most afternoons. His favorite vocalist was soprano Kari Jobe. Mike and his wife greatly enjoyed feeling the presence of God's Spirit at some of her in person concerts.

Music had been an integral part of Roy's life, beginning with congregational singing and chorus in high school. His favorite hymn was the same as that of his late father: "It Is Well With My Soul." Indeed, we know it is well with his soul, even now, because he remained a dedicated Christian. He declared to his wife during his last week on earth that he had remained faithful to God and Jesus until death. His wife appreciates his faithfulness to the Heavenly Father, as well as to her. He is, and will be, deeply mourned and missed. April will miss and love him for all her days, as long as her mind holds coherently together, as he was truly her soul mate. His faithful wife looks forward to their sweet meeting again, in Heaven, when that final Day comes, and we all will get to see Jesus and God.