Michael Allen Phipps, 52, passed from this life on October 30, 2012 to be forever free from the brain tumor that he so courageously fought for two years. He was born in Jefferson, North Carolina to David Lester Phipps, Sr. and Ruth Anne Miller Phipps. After graduating from Ashe Central High School in 1978, Mike attended North Carolina State University and received his degree in Industrial Engineering. He began his career in 1983 as an engineer with the U.S. Army at Ft. Bragg later transferring to the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama. In 1986, he began a 24 year career with NASA in Huntsville, Alabama where he worked proudly in support of the Space Shuttle Program and later on ARES-I. During his years there, Mike achieved his Professional Engineer certification and was awarded the cherished Silver Snoopy Award given by the astronauts. In 2010, he decided to change career paths and went to work for the Missile Defense Agency. Mike's greatest delight was his family. He was married for 21 years to the former Teri Michelle Loyd who he met at N.C. State. They had two children, Zachary Allen and Andrew Gray. Sadly, Andrew died at the age of 3 from a congenital birth defect which left Mike's heart forever broken. Zachary was his greatest joy. Mike served as a volunteer coach for numerous basketball and baseball teams even winning two county championships as head coach of Zachary's middle school baseball team. He was proud of the wonderful young man that Zachary had become and rejoiced when Zachary was recently admitted to the nursing program at Auburn University. Mike's pride as a father was always evident. Mike was also an active member of Trinity Baptist Church in Madison. He worked many years with the youth group and served as a Deacon. It was his hope that he could somehow make a difference for the youth. He was preceded in death by his son, Andrew Gray Phipps; his father, David L. Phipps, Sr.; his father -in-law, Donald G. Loyd; and his younger brother, Mark. 

Mike is survived by his mother, Ruth Anne Phipps of Crumpler, NC; three brothers, David L. Phipps, Sr. (Sarah Ruth) of Holly Springs, NC; Joseph W. Phipps (Kate) of Jefferson, NC; and Larry Phipps of Jefferson, NC; mother-in-law, Edna G. Loyd of Gibsonville, NC; sister-in-law, Tina L. Wiggins (Rick) of Gibsonville, NC and many nieces, nephews, as well as a large extended family. A heart-felt thanks to Dr. Brian Mathews, Dr. Hoyt Childs, Claudia Agnew, and the many caring individuals at Clearview Cancer Institute. Thanks to all the management and coworkers at Missile Defense Agency for supporting Mike through his illness and the Army Aviation Safety Office for their support of Teri. To Navar Johnson, thank you for being the angel caretaker for Mike. 

Visitation services will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, November 4 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home on Bob Wallace Avenue. The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Monday, November 5 at Trinity Baptist Church, 1088 Hughes Road in Madison. Burial will follow at Huntsville Memory Gardens. 

In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund has been initiated at Redstone Federal Credit Union to fund a scholarship for a deserving student to further their education. Donations may be made to the Mike Phipps Memorial Scholarship, Redstone Federal Credit Union, 220 Wynn Drive, Huntsville, AL 35893 and note for the Mike Phipps Memorial Scholarship Fund, Account 51005512653. 

Information provided by Laughlin Funeral Home, internet