Michael Anthony Willis started work at the Navy shipyard in Charleston, S.C., in 1977. He built many motorcycles and many dreams. He avoided naps and nonsense. He wore the same pair of Docksiders, a gift from his mother-in-law, for the last 27 years of his life. He was born on August 14th, 1956 to Mary Tanner and Vincent P. Willis, and was the youngest of four siblings Ricky Willis, Teresa W. Ramirez, and Marlene Harter. His wife of 38 years, Caroline, says she would've lived in a ditch, as long as it was with him. Their first date was December 15th, 1973. It ended at 10 minutes to one o'clock the next morning, and five years later, to the minute, their first son, Michael, Jr. was born on December 16th, 1978. Their second son, Charles Vincent, followed in 1981. The flag was first raised at the Navy Yard in Charleston, S.C., in 1906, and Michael was there to see it come down in 1996. He then started work at Range Control at Fort Bragg, N.C. A fulfilled life was completed with grandchildren, Brittany Marie and Jasmine Reiko. Michael was also loved by nieces and nephews, pseudo sons and daughters, friends. An eternal pragmatist, no matter whom he spoke to of his cancer diagnosis, Michael said, "Baby, somedays you get the elevator and somedays you get the shaft." Defeat is not what we have here. Cancer could never win over our hearts, which is where he will always be very much alive. Remember him in aviator sunglasses and tank tops. Remember his terms of endearment. Remember that mustache. On February 21st, 2014, Michael Willis cut off the last light in his shipyard.