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Michael Orr Obituary

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Michael Orr

Tucson, AZ

December 11, 1947 - February 17, 2013

Michael Orr Obituary

Michael M. Orr entered the home God specially prepared for him in heaven on February 17, 2013. He was born on December 11, 1947 in Ft. Wayne, IN and adopted at the age of seven from the Boy's Opportunity Home in Decatur, IL. His parents soon moved to Tucson where he lived until after his first semester at the U of A. He received his Bachelor's at Illinois State, earned his Master's Degree in Social Work from the Jane Adams School at the University of Illinois and was in a doctoral program at Michigan State. A wonderful career in social work followed, including 24 years as a school social worker in TUSD. He was one of the founders of the School Social Work Association of Arizona. Mike had a heart to serve and focused his efforts on the weekly breakfast for the needy or homeless at Emmanuel Baptist Church as well as regularly giving away gifts and money to those he had never met because he wanted them to be as blessed as he had been. He reached out to everyone with a smile, a joke and the love of Christ. Mike was never at a loss for words! He believed sharing your story of how God changed your life was the most effective way of sharing Christ as it could never be disputed. Many people were led to Christ and saved because of his testimony and the love he showed to them regardless of their social standing. He believed this was his legacy. Mike was also an avid hunter and predator caller. He was the President of Southern Arizona Wildlife Callers for several years and was a Firearm Safety Instructor. He spent a lot of time working on a cabin in Alpine, Arizona to leave for his family to remember him by. Mike was incredibly talented in furniture refinishing and other areas and used his gifts to make others happy. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Helen and Edgar Orr; his biological sister, Linda Jonas whom his parents had not been allowed to adopt due to rules in that era, but was found after a 21 year separation, his niece, Mechele Cox and his nephew, Ronald Cox. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Kathleen "Kathi"; his children, Ursula Campos (Frank), Margeaux Bowers (Brian) and Charles Orr (Christina) and 11 precious grandchildren, Diego, Oscar, Paloma, Lucas and Gabriel Campos, Andrew Adair, Brynna, Madden and Harley Bowers and Canyon and Jaden Clark. He called his children and grandchildren his crowning accomplishments. Mike loved the Lord and wanted to show others the difference Christ had made in his life. He beat the odds and lived 7.5 years with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a little known incurable lung disease with no known treatment that causes as many deaths each year as breast cancer. Even during his 30 day stay in ICU, he shared his faith in Christ and his love and hope with others. We wish to extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr. Gordon Carr, his medical team and the skilled and compassionate staff of the Diamond 3 West ICU at the University of Arizona Medical Center. Many came to check on him or talk with him even on their days off. A Memorial Service will be held for Mike at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 23, 2013 at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 1825 N. Alvernon Way in Tucson. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Memorial Gifts be given to the New Life Transitional Program of Arizona Baptist Children's Services, 1779 N. Alvernon Way Tucson, AZ 85712 or on line at www.abcs.org. Arrangements by ADAIR FUNERAL HOMES, Dodge Chapel.

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