Michael Allan Cowles

Michael Allan Cowles unexpectedly passed away on Saturday July 9, 2016 in a boating incident in the Gulf of Mexico. Born August 13, 1960 in Tampa, Florida where he lived most of his life. He grew up in Land O’Lakes, a small town on a small, but deep pond with his parents and sisters. He became an avid fisherman and could be seen many times out fishing for whatever would bite. He was a son, a brother, a father, an uncle, a nephew, a friend. He was a renegade, an adventurer, a man of faith, an animal lover, an artist, builder, joker or deadly serious; an enigma. Straightforward, often blunt, but was caring and funny. He was completely genuine without pretense and those who knew him loved him.He was a good son to his parents James G. Cowles and Marie C. (Schulke) Cowles. He was there through times of health crisis for his Mom and Dad, helping with home repairs and gardening for them and Aunt Edna E. Schulke. He loved his family, especially his daughter Brittany. The greatest joy of his life was being the father of Brittany Marie Cowles and stepfather to Evan Sears-Oatley. He was a devoted father who adored his kids and did the best he could for them. His devotion to his daughter was evident in the hundreds of photos of them throughout her life. He survived many difficult things, but delighted in simple pleasures like fishing, riding motorcycles and spending time with his loved ones and friends. It was hard to find a recent picture of him alone without someone he cared about in it.Just about any time he was in a photo he was either fishing, cooking up the fish he caught or spending time with friends and family.He was a man of faith and even when he strayed he always was firmly rooted in his faith in Jesus Christ.Mike loved good music, good food and good times with friends and family. In his youth Mike was an adventurer, a rebel and he always followed his own path in his own way. He traveled a lot. As a young man he hiked the Appalachian Trail and ended up in Maine where he fished and lived off of the land at times before returning home to Florida. In later years he lived simply and on his own terms.He had many talents including wood working, renovations and rebuilding his motorcycle a million times. He was skilled in horticulture and construction and he could fix anything. He had a green thumb and could grow anything because he loved nature. Health problems in his 40’s slowed him down, but he kept moving forward as he could. He spent as much time fishing and chilling to relax and recover. He spent his last day on a boat fishing with his friends doing what he truly loved. He left us too soon and too unexpectedly. Michael is survived by parents, James G. and Marie C. Cowles, sisters, G. Denise Cowles-Lewis and Valerie K Toloday, brother-in-law, Ron Toloday. Daughter, Brittany Marie Cowles, stepson Evan Sears-Oatley, Maternal Aunt, Edna E. Schulke, Niece, Amanda E. Cooper, Nephews Kyle Toloday and Alexander Lewis, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Memorial Services will be held at 2 pm Saturday July 16, 2016 at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church 2017 Riegler Rd, Land O’Lakes, FL 34639 (phone: 813-949-5516). The family will be receiving friends and family from 1 - 2 pm with services to follow. He was loved and will be missed by all. Words of comfort may be expressed for Michael’s family by clicking “Share a Memory.”