1863 times, Mike Yearty jumped out of a perfectly good airplane and dove to the earth under parachute. That’s a man who relishes excitement… a man who isn’t intimidated by a challenge.

Michael Yearty, 54, of Hewitt, Texas, made his last jump on September 5, 2014, surrounded by his loved ones after a long courageous battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. There will be a private celebration of his life at his home. At a later date, his ashes will be scattered at sea off Miami by his friends and family.

Mike was born February 23, 1960 in Miami, Florida to Ben and Margaret Yearty. He was in the Miami Palmetto High School class of 1978, where he was a member of the Gentry’s fraternity.

He learned about concert and event promotion from his father, promoting several pop and rock music artists at the Miami Stadium. Later, he became the general manager of the Miami Marlins minor league ball team, then moved to Wichita, Kansas where he was director of the National Baseball Congress. He worked for DirectBuy in Dayton, Ohio; Fort Myers, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Dallas, Texas; and Las Vegas, Nevada. He also sold franchises for many brands, including Jackson-Hewitt, Better Homes and Gardens, and AireServe.

Mike lived large. He grew up a wild, fun-loving, outdoor kid in Miami, Florida, where he swam in the canals and ocean, was taking outings on his own john-boat by the time he was 10, and shared a love of salt-water fishing with his father.

He was a certified scuba diver. He held a pyrotechnics license, a skill he demonstrated with joy to his grandchildren at each opportunity given to him. He went on missions to Honduras to build churches, where he earned the nickname “White Horse.”

At any moment he would burst into song, despite never mastering the gift of tone. He convinced his daughters he knew how to make chicken 537 ways. They were all called “Chicken Miguel.”

Mike met his wife, CJ, in Wichita. They married in 1993. Although Mike had no natural children of his own, he said he was especially blessed, because he got to choose his children.

A friend, a brother, a son, a father, a husband and Poppy to all… his humor, his humility, his heart, his gift to love all is what made him an inspiration.

His 1864th jump was his most special. It’s one that was so perfect it never touched the earth.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Benjamin Yearty.

Survivors include his wife, CJ Jackson, his step-daughters, Brienne Paulsen (married to Steven Paulsen), of San Antonio; Devon Hempe, of Schaumburg, Illinois; as well as four grandchildren: Christopher, Caille, Connor and Cameron. He is also survived by his mother, Margaret Yearty, of Cape Coral, Florida; his brother, Frank Yearty, of Roanoke Virginia; his sister, Margie Arjona, of Cape Coral; as well as a niece and several nephews.

The family would like to extend special thanks to doctors and staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, where Mike and CJ fought side-by-side for 16 months against the cancer that took his life, as well as the Baylor Scott & White Hillcrest Hospice team and Dr. Mo at OakCrest Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church Under the Bridge in Waco.