Michael Evans "Mike" Wilson of Wilson passed away on Feb. 8, 2008, at the age of 65.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia P. Wilson, his son Perry Lee Wilson; his daughter, Natalie Evans Wilson Brownlow; his daughter-in-law Kimberly Davis Wilson; and his son-in-law Thomas James Tyne Brownlow. A graveside service for the family was held on Feb. 13, 2008, at Rivercrest Gardens in Marie, Arkansas, and a memorial service was held in the City of Wilson, Town Square at 2 p.m. the same day.

Mike was a compassionate and caring family man who loved his wife and children more than anything else in the world. Second only to his family was his passion for trophy deer hunting. He had a never-ending and burning desire to help people, and he made a lasting impression on each and every individual with whom he cam into contact. He will be dearly missed by all those he leaves behind.

He attended high school at the Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tenn., and he graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in 1965. He served in the United States Army in Korea, and he achieved the rank of Captain in air defense artillery prior to his honorable discharge in 1967.

Mike was the son of the late Robert Edward Lee Wilson III and Patte Evans Wilson, and he was the great, great grandson of Robert Edward Lee Wilson, who founded Lee Wilson & Company of Wilson, in 1886. Following his tour of duty in the army, Mike returned to Wilson to work at Lee Wilson & Company. He served as chairman and chief executive officer of Lee Wilson & Company from 1987 to the present.

Mike loved the state of Arkansas, and throughout his life, he became well known and highly respected for his philanthropy, his willingness to devote countless hours to charitable endeavors and for his passion for the advancement of education, both statewide and on a national level. He was the elected Mayor of the City of Wilson, from 1986 to the present. During his life, mike tirelessly served on and was a member of countless boards and committees in an effort to further education and economic development in Arkansas. Such board, committees and memberships include: Lee Wilson & Company; Delta Valley & Southern Railway; Kennemore-Wilson Insurance Agency LC; Wilson Realty & Development Company; Entergy Arkansas Advisory Board; ASB Corporation; American State Bank; Arkansas Power & Light Company; Agricultural Risk Management Coop; National Council on Economic Education; National Council on Education; Council for Agricultural Council Research; National Cotton Council of America; Agricultural Council of Arkansas; Arkansas Council on Economic Education; Lyon College; Lyon College Capital Campaign; Arkansas School for Math, Sciences & Arts; Arkansas State University Capital Campaign; Arkansas State University; UAMS- Arkansas Toxicology Symposium; UAMS Regional Programs Advisory Council; Arkansas Business Council; Arkansas Rice Research Board; University of Arkansas--Cooperative Extension Service; State Advisory Committee; Arkansas See Council; Arkansas State Paint Board; Arkansas Advisory Council on Public Elementary & Secondary Education; Arkansas Agriculture Hall of fame; The Arkansas Institute; Ark. Northeastern College Foundation; Great River Economic Development Foundation; Mississippi County Farm Bureau; Mississippi County Hospitals; Osceola Port Authority; Mississippi County Community Foundation; Mississippi County Mayor's Association; Mississippi County Medical Education Council (Med-Ed); South Mississippi County School District #57 School Board; Mississippi County Workforce Alliance; Cotton Boll Technical Institute; Democratic Central Committee- Mississippi County; Mississippi County Election Commission; South Mississippi County Red Cross; Quorum Court District #12- Mississippi County; Mississippi County Resource Development Council; Mississippi County Road Committee; South Mississippi County Chamber of Commerce; University of Tennessee- Memphis; Foundation for the Mid-South; Dorothy Snider Foundation; University of Tennessee- Memphis; Forum on Cancer Research; Memphis Museum System; Lichterman Nature Center (Memphis); Memphis Health Industry Council; The Citadel Foundation; Enterprise Corporation of the Delta; ECD Investments; University of Virginia-Arkansas Jefferson Scholarship Selection Committee.

Because of Mike's passion for education, the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, any memorials be sent to Lyon College--c/o Tim Bruner, P.O. Box 2317, 2300 Highland Road, Batesville, AR 72503--or another education institution or charity of the donor's choosing.