JOHN ‘MICKEY’ MCMICHAEL – Obituary
John “Mickey” McMichael, 80, of Elk Township, NJ, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 3, 2026, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. Beloved husband and soulmate of nearly 20 years to Patricia “Patti” M. McMichael (née Mulligan), Mickey was a devoted father to his daughter, Leslie Greenawalt, and a loving stepfather to William J. Mitchell, Sr. (Lorena). He was a proud and loving grandfather of Abigail Greenawalt, Julia Greenawalt, Kris Pinto, William J. Mitchell, Jr., Amelia Mitchell, Nikolas Mitchell, and three beloved granddogs. Mickey was the cherished son of the late James Cyrus and Dorothy Elizabeth (née Hasher) McMichael; brother of the late James MacMichael (Linda) and the late Dorothy McMichael; beloved son-in-law of Cecelia Mulligan, who at 102 years old absolutely adored him; dear brother-in-law to seven siblings-in-law; and treasured uncle of Kathleen MacMichael.
Born in Woodbury on March 22, 1946, Mickey was raised in Mantua and made Elk Township his home for the past 56 years. A graduate of Clearview Regional High School, Class of 1965, he answered the call to serve his country immediately after graduation. Mickey proudly served in the United States Navy from 1965 to 1970 during the Vietnam War as a Navy SEAL, a chapter of his life that remained a source of great pride.
Following his military service, Mickey built a career at Evergreen Auto Body in Woodbury, where he worked as a supervisor until heart issues forced his retirement. Even after retiring, he continued doing what he loved most—keeping his hands dirty as an accomplished auto body specialist. Blessed with what family and friends affectionately called his “golden hands,” Mickey could fix just about anything and was truly a jack of all trades.
For all of his life, Mickey was, above all else, a car guy. Whether he was restoring classic automobiles, working under the hood, or simply taking a long drive, his passion for cars never faded. Mickey never needed a destination to enjoy the journey. A casual suggestion of going out for lunch could easily become a two-hour drive to Baltimore because he had a craving for crab cakes. He simply loved being on the road, especially with Patti by his side. He was an accomplished race car owner and mechanic of a 250cc winged micro sprint and later a 600cc winged micro sprint, competing frequently at Airport Speedway in New Castle, Delaware, and occasionally at Bridgeport Motorsports Park in Bridgeport, New Jersey.
Mickey also enjoyed collecting, restoring, and proudly displaying vintage and antique automobiles alongside his beloved wife, Patti, at local parades and community events. Among his prized vehicles were a beautifully restored 1929 Ford Roadster, a 1955 Oldsmobile 98, and a 1957 Ford Thunderbird.
A longtime member of both the Elk Township Senior Citizen Club and the Clayton Senior Citizen Club, Mickey enjoyed the friendships he made throughout the community. He took great pride in gardening and landscaping his yard and enjoyed spending time at the beach or the little summer place in Cape May they recently purchased.
Mickey was also an enthusiastic auction-goer who rarely came home empty-handed. Never passing up on an auction meant that he quickly became what those who loved him would affectionately call “a little bit of a hoarder,” but to Mickey, every purchase had potential, every old part could be useful someday, and every treasure deserved a second chance.
Those who knew Mickey will undoubtedly remember his stubborn streak. Once he made up his mind, there was little chance of changing it. Patti credits this same stubbornness with keeping Mickey alive well beyond the prognosis he was originally given, long ago, when heart issues forced his retirement. Yet beneath that stubborn exterior was a generous, loyal, and dependable man who would gladly give his time, talents, and heart to family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers in need. He believed in hard work, took pride in doing things the right way, and found genuine happiness in helping others.
His quick wit, mechanical talent, adventurous spirit, and unwavering love for his family will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Services are private at the convenience of the family under the direction of BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, Clayton. Memories may be shared, and condolences may be offered to the family by signing the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.