Michael T. Bleything

Michael “Mike” Thomas Christopher Bleything, 79, passed away Sunday, October 6th, 2024, surrounded in love by his wife, daughters & granddaughter.

Mike was born the second youngest of five to Harold and Laura Bleything in Portland, OR on November 10th, 1944.  He graduated from David Douglas High School in1962 and joined the Air Force shortly thereafter serving during Vietnam.  Once he returned home, he relocated to Maryland and after briefly working at the NSA he began his career as a police officer with the Laurel Police Department, until he retired in 1994.  Never being one to sit still, it wasn’t long before Mike gave up on retirement and began working at the Laurel Boys & Girls Club and then the Holy Cross Hospital until relocating to Gibsonville, NC in 2020.  Here, he met an amazing new "framily" (friends who are family) and actually did try to retire, but never stopped working on his favorite part of any job he held, which was helping the community, joining every board he could, making people laugh and being there whenever others needed him.

It is so hard to condense all that Mike was into a few paragraphs and for those of you who knew him, we know you completely understand.  Mike was a loving husband who adored his wife Beverly and made sure all around him knew this within the first few minutes of meeting him.   He was a fiercely protective and boastful father, grandfather, son & brother.  He was a very proud Air Force veteran, a retired police Lieutenant, a Lions Clubs International member and the unofficial Mayor of Laurel.    Mike was an amazing friend who never met a stranger and did not hesitate to lend a helping hand to anyone in need.  He was always the funniest person in the room and couldn’t stand to keep a good joke inside, even when it was inappropriate, or especially when it was inappropriate.  He absolutely loved serving the community and thrived on making connections with everyone around him.

His memory and legacy will live on not only through those he loved and who loved him but by all of those he helped and touched along his way.  He truly made the world a better place and we will miss him every day.

Mike is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Beverly; his daughters Tammy Bleything (Darius), Kimberly Bleything Prolo (Adam) & Heather Logan (Sandy); his granddaughters Brooke Bleything Slayton (Mark), Kendall Randolph (Tariq), Sanaa Olivia Bleything-Jones; his great-granddaughters Maliya, Elena & Gianna; and his baby sister Helen Morton Bleything.  There are also many nieces, nephews and extended family members that will miss him greatly.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Harold, mother Laura, sister Pat and brothers Harold and Bob who will no doubt all be waiting for him with open arms.

We would like everyone to please share pictures and memories of Mike so we can continue to celebrate this amazing man together through love, appreciation and laughter, exactly as he would have wanted.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2024 from 1-3 pm at the Donaldson Funeral Home Chapel, 313 Talbott Ave, Laurel, MD 20707.  A funeral service will begin at 3 pm and will be livestreamed/recorded HERE .

A celebration of life will be held immediately following the service at the Partnership Hall (Laurel Police Department) 811 5th Street, Laurel, MD 20707.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to any of the following options:

Lions Club Donation

https://www.lionsclubs.org/en/donate

Vested Interest in K9's :

https://search.app/ihEpMtCDH7RwRzgN8

Friends of Homeless Animals :

https://foha.kindful.com/?campaign=1061761