Michael Mccafferty

Michael Edwin McCafferty, 75, of Oakley, KS died April 25, 2015 at Swedish Hospital in Engelwood, Colorado. He was born July 22, 1939 in Clayton, New Mexico, to Edwin and Vivian Merle McCafferty. He married JoAnne Brown on October 24, 2014 in Oakley, KS.

Mike graduated from Hueferano County High School in Colorado. He was a terrific athlete and lettered in Football, Basketball, and Track. He continued to love sports and he took up Judo at the age of 40, he also coached a women’s softball team for 15 years. He was a loyal Denver Bronco fan!

Mike served in the Navy from 1966 to 1969, aboard the first nuclear powered cruiser The USS Long Beach. Mike was proud to be a Vietnam Veteran and he was very instrumental in the building of “The Veterans Wall” in the Memorial Garden at Bertrand Park. Mike felt strongly that every veteran in Logan County would be listed on the memorial. Mike spent many happy hours with the Oakley VFW group of people and he counted them all as friends,

Mike’s unique hobby was antique barb wire. He was past president, and board member of the Barbed Wire Associations of Texas, Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. He was very knowledgeable of the history of barb wire and was well-known in that circle as an expert. JoAnne and Mike enjoyed going to the barb wire conventions and spending time with their circle of friends devoted to the history of barb wire. One of Mike and JoAnne’s special barb wire friends is Danny Wright and his parents.

Mike loved all things railroad. He grew up the son of a station master and the family moved frequently to different railroad towns. Mike collected trains and railroad memorabilia. In his shop Moment in Time he displayed his railroad collection and his barb wire collections.

Mike is remembered by all of his family and friends as a special person who enjoyed life and was truly a kind and considerate person. He always had a silly joke to tell and loved making his family and friends laugh.

Preceding Mike in death were his parents; a son, Jeff McCafferty; a grandson and siblings, Mark, Melody, Clifford, and Daniel.


Mike is survived by his wife of the home; a daughter, Deborah; brothers, Keith and wife Laura, their children and Kevin; a sister, Kathleen and husband Eddie Miller; an uncle, Ron Howell and aunt, Arlene; JoAnne’s children, Donna and Ty Inlow, Jeff and Judy Brown, Lori and Rick Woodall and Julie and Brad Neuenswander. JoAnne’s grandchildren loved Mike and enjoyed calling him Poppy. Mike is also survived by his special friends Jesse, Jim, and James Deroches.

Cremation was chosen. A memorial service will take place 7:00 p.m. Sunday, May 3, 2015 at the Memorial Garden in Bertrand Park, Oakley. If weather conditions are poor the service will be held at the Oakley VFW. Memorials are suggested to the Oakley V.F.W.