Walter Michael ‘Mike’ Surrency
Walter Michael ‘Mike’ Surrency was born on February 13th, 1937 to James and Virginia Meta Sawyer Surrency in Fort Myers, Florida. During his early childhood, due to his father’s military service in World War II, Mike lived in Naples, Fort Myers, and Key West. Mike’s junior high and senior high years were spent in Pensacola, Florida. He played football on the Pensacola High School’s State winning football team in 1954. He graduated in 1955.
Mike spent eight years in the Navy Reserve with two years as active duty on the destroyer, U.S. Tweety. This tour of duty took him to Cuba and the Caribbean Islands during the Cuban Crisis. He graduated from the Electronics Apprentice Program at Pensacola Naval Station. He had worked there during his apprentice program for a few years before transferring to NASA’s Manned Space Center in 1963 and moving to Clear Lake City in 1964. Mike worked for the Federal Government in Tech Services Division during the programs for Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle. Before retiring in 1994, he was the Supervisor of Electronics in Tech Services Division at the Johnson Space Center. Mike was responsible for the drawings of the American Flag that was placed on the Moon during the Apollo landing.
After retiring from the space program, he built another career by becoming a luthier; he built Classical and Flamenco guitars. Many Harris County guitarists such as Jamie Garcia, Val Phoenix, and Valarie purchased and played his guitars. Mike also built guitars for many players in other states.
During his retirement years, Mike and Connie travelled to several states and overseas to Italy, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, England, France, Monte Carlo, Amsterdam, and Mexico.
Mike was preceded in death by: his parents; his wife Katherine Anne Surrency; his brother David Surrency; and his daughter Rebecca Wood.
He is survived by: his wife Connie Cole Swing Surrency; son Stephen Mark Surrency of Miami, Florida; daughter Priscilla Laura Schuls and husband Dale Sr. of Florida; and stepson Stephen Quinan Swing and wife Jennifer of Houston. Other relatives include his sister-in-law Claire Cole Lillie and husband John of Bryan, Texas. He is also survived by his grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
The family thanks the staff at Baywood Crossing for the care they gave to Mike.
Visitation will be Thursday, December 19, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Crowder Funeral Home, 111 E. Medical Center Blvd., Webster, Texas. Church service will be held Friday, December 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Clear Lake United Methodist Church, 16335 El Camino Real, Houston, Texas 77062. Burial will take place at Forest Park East in Webster, Texas.
My Buddy Walter…you told me a long time ago it was okay to call you Walter. I’m so happy you are in a better …kinder safe place with Angels. You put up with me trimming your hair and nails all these years letting me cause I told you Connie wanted to. I’ve enjoyed having you and Connie in my life. Rest well my friend..you have found your peace. I have that pic we took of you holding that card and flowers we got Connie a couple of years ago. It’s on my fridge and for me to still keep you in my heart.
Such an amazing man and a great neighbor! He will be missed by many!
Mike and I first met as 11-yr old boys in Pleasant Grove, a small community a few miles outside of Pensacola, FL. We ran barefoot thru the woods along with David and swam in the bayou and played marbles in a ring we drew in the dirt road in front of his house. His family moved to Ferry Pass, another Pensacola suburb and we lost touch. After leaving the Air Force and taking a position with NASA in Houston, I went to church one morning and the service was a renewal of wedding vows and there was Mike and his wife acting as the representative couple down front. We reconnected and spent time together inside NASA even tho we worked in different parts of the organization. I found his first wife’s stone in the cemetery where my first wife is buried, without a date. Now it can be finished and I bid him farewell.