COMMERCE — Michael Ray Oglesby was born Aug. 14, 1940, to Lucille and Robert John Oglesby of Commerce and made his transition on March 21, 2013, after succumbing to the ravages of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

He was preceded in death by both parents; his sister, Christine Wickersham; and his oldest son, Jason Michael Oglesby.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeanenne Grammer Oglesby; his sons, Daniel and Adam; his daughter-in-law, Amy; two precious grandchildren, Luke and Katherine; his older brother, Bob Oglesby and wife Tessa of Dallas; younger brother Joe Oglesby and wife Kay of Yukon, Okla.; his two sisters, Jean Follis of Baytown and Ann Julian and husband Hoyle of Klondike; and many nieces and nephews.

Mike attended public school in Commerce and began his love of the drums in the high school marching band. He played with a combo throughout college and loved to tell the story about playing a gig in Sulphur Springs with J.P. Richardson, the “Big Bopper.”

He served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1961 and spent 13 months in Korea. When he returned to Commerce, he finished his B.S. degree in political science and history at East Texas State University. He met and married Jeanenne Grammer of Dallas and moved to the Metroplex to begin his career in the group insurance business. His persistence and determination to get a job done and done well proved to be the traits that contributed to his sales and managerial success.

After selling his company in 1997, he began developing land and building homes in the Rockwall area. In 2004, he began investing in his hometown of Commerce, remodeling older homes and building new housing for college students and residents.

Mike was an active and an honorary member of the Lake Highlands Exchange Club and served as club president and district president of the service club. Each year Mike and his wife awarded scholarships through the Exchange Club to deserving students in memory of their oldest son. He also served on the Dallas Police Review Board and later, after moving to Commerce, joined the Commerce Rotary Club and served on the Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Board.

Mike was passionate about his family, business, history, traveling, politics and high school football. He was an avid reader and especially liked reading about WWII and other strategic events in history. In 2004 he had the opportunity to visit Normandy, France.

In lieu of usual remembrances, donations may be made to Texas A&M University-Commerce Foundation, Mike Oglesby Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 3425 Commerce, Texas 75429.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Jones-Walker & Son Funeral Home in Commerce.

Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Restland Memorial Park-Dallas with Rev. Valerie Englert officiating.

Online condolences may be made at www.jones-walkerandson.com and www.heraldbanner.com.