Michael Henry Mootz

Michael Henry Mootz was the firstborn and "favorite child" born to Raymond and Dorothy Mootz, January 16, 1947 in Chico, Ca. Right out the womb he would steal his Grandmother Mabel's heart and leave little room for his five siblings. Mike attended local schools here in Chico with honors as an Eagle Scout and as he tells it he was the only one of his siblings to ride his bicycle ten miles to church as an altar boy. He frequently got in trouble with the nuns and his teachers for being a class clown intent on making everyone around him laugh. After a particularly troublesome period involving cars and motorcycles and trouble with local law enforcement Mike was given the option of signing up for military service or doing jail time. Not one to spend time behind bars, he signed up for the Navy at 17 years old. In 1965, Mike began his tour in Vietnam making lifelong friends and changing his outlook on life. By 1968, Mike was back on the loose spending time between Louisiana and Chico and settling into Sacramento bartending and working construction. If we are to believe his stories, he learned as much bartending as he did in construction during these years. In 1973, Mike returned to Chico attending Butte College and met Nora who would later become his wife. It's no secret he robbed the cradle when he fell in love with her and married her in 1975. Shortly thereafter his son Damon was born followed by his daughter Keahi. He was a very hands on father who was known to attend all sporting events, plays, school events and ready to run a forgotten mitt or cleats at any hour of the day. His wife always said if he could have nursed his babies he would have. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2002 he didn't believe he would we meet a grandchild but in 2010 and again in 2012 he was blessed with Elizabeth and Jett in his life. And when he wanted to give up his fight it was his grandchildren his daughter held over his head to hold up his end of the bargain they'd made years ago, as she had hers. Mike continued to work in the construction industry becoming a well-respected commercial building inspector retiring in 2009. His hobbies included fishing, spending time at Eagle Lake and in Louisiana with his extended families, boating, reading, crafting with his grandkids and online shopping. Amazon Prime lost one of it's most valuable customers, but the mailman is relieved about that. He was preceded in death by his mother and father and his baby brother, Jimmy (Beaner) who he no longer had to compete with as the funniest member of the Mootz family. He is survived by his accomplice in night escapes from his family home, Patty Putney, John (Eddie) Mootz, the family thumb sucker, Pamela Mootz, princess of the pixie cuts and baby sister, Jane (JJ) Mootz, the wild child, wife, Nora Mootz, son, Damon Mootz, daughter Danielle Keahi Mootz, grandchildren, Elizabeth and Jett Covarrubias, and his beloved dog, Bella. Mike passed away in his home on Christmas morning, December 25, 2017, true to his word he stayed until Christmas day making his family laugh and giggle right to the end. In lieu of sending flowers his family asks that you make a donation in his name to Enloe Hospice Care at Enloe Foundation for the amazing love and support they provided him and his family with during his last few weeks. They would also welcome any Amazon purchases made in his name sent to their family home.