Michael William Barnes, 77 of Sand Springs, OK passed away on Monday February 5, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa, OK.

Services for Michael are entrusted to the care of Mobley-Groesbeck Funeral Service.

A gathering of family and friends will be held at the funeral home on Monday February 12, 2024 beginning at 11 am.

Mike was born on December 12, 1946 in Peoria, IL to William Marion and Leota (Raker) Barnes. He attended a one-room eight grade school in Glassford, IL, and later graduated from Canton High School, IL. After being recruited by Big 8 and Big 10 schools, he continued his education at the University of Missouri on scholarship to play football. While there, he developed his love for geology and hunting for fossils. His education was interrupted by being drafted into the US Army and serving in Vietnam, where he was wounded in action, receiving the Purple Heart, Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Medals.

Mike finished his education, receiving his BA and Master's Degrees in English. He later went on to earn a PhD from the University of Nebraska in higher education where he met fellow graduate student and love of his life, Laura Lee Boettcher. The two later moved to Tulsa, OK where they pursued careers in higher education, he as an administrator at The University of Tulsa and she as a faculty member at Oklahoma State University.

Mike and Laura were married on December 21, 1987 in Las Vegas, NV. At the ages of 48 & 40, they had their son, William Phillip Marion Barnes. Mike was an incredibly involved father, coaching William's teams in football and baseball.

He retired from The University of Tulsa, where he was the Director of Institutional Research and Records. During his retirement years, Mike enjoyed watching baseball and attending games for the Tulsa Drillers. He also loved going to flea markets, and collecting and cataloging his favorite classic films. Mike was a dog lover. He always had dogs from the time he was born and was inseparable from his beloved "Charlie" a golden retriever.

Survivors include his wife, Laura; son Capt. William Barnes USAF and his wife Abby; a brother, Charles Barnes and his wife Debbie. His dogs Charlie, Frankie and Logan, as well as his grand dogs Bella and Buddy. Mike was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carolyn Jackson.

Service will be livestreamed on this website or at:  https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/viewer/97782