Michael Ray Nix's Obituary
Michael Ray Nix, 72, passed away on March 11, 2025 at his home in Memphis, Tennessee leaving behind a legacy built on craftsmanship, integrity, and a relentless drive to be the best. For 58 years, Mike was a master roofer, running his own company, Nix Roofing, for almost five decades. He knew all the tricks of the trade, and his reputation for perfection was unmatched. Customers knew him not only for his skill but also for his authenticity, honesty and commitment to doing things the right way—no shortcuts.
In business, as in life, Mike was a man of his word. If he said he’d do something, you could count on it, every single time. If he didn’t want to do something, he’d tell you right up front. He didn’t just want to be good at what he did; he wanted to be the best, whether that was in his work or in the many hobbies he pursued over the years. Once he mastered one craft, he’d dive headfirst into the next. As a Mason and member of the Al Chymia Shrine Temple, his Hillbilly car, a VW beetle transformed into a whimsical display on wheels used in parades to raise money for the Shriner’s Children’s hospital, won first place - the humorous adornments and surprise squirt tube on the front likely key contributors. He also dedicated years to the T.A.M. (Tennessee Arkansas Mississippi) Beagle Club where he proudly won Grand Final Winner with his prized beagle, Field Champion Allen’s Boogy-Woogy Banjo. Hunting was another of Mike’s great passions—especially rabbit and squirrel hunting with his trusty pack of beagles and feist dogs.
To those who knew him, Mike Nix was more than just a name—it was his brand and big personality. Strong, intense, and unforgettable, Mike Nix could make people tense up with a look or put them completely at ease with a smile. He had standards that could make a perfectionist quake, not only for his work but for everything he did. Mike Nix was also the life of the party who liked to have fun playing billiards with friends or grilling a feast for family, always ready to share a laugh or a good story. He had a sharp wit and knack for giving nicknames or lighthearted teasing as form of endearment to those he knew, a memorable figure in every room he entered. A teacher at heart, Mike Nix was passionate about passing on his knowledge. If someone was eager to learn, he was patient and generous with his expertise. If they weren’t as invested, Mike Nix still expected nothing less than excellence. And if there was something he didn’t know, he’d study it until he mastered it. His tools were a testament to his meticulous nature; he stamped each one like a brand – Mike Nix Makita, Mike Nix Milwaukee, Mike Nix Hitachi, Mike Nix Stihl. Even the screwdrivers had his name on them.
Mike is now reunited with his parents, Horace Ray and Esther Marie Nix, and three dear family members, his nephew, Dustin Greer, his brother, Melburn Eddie Nix, as well as his grandfather, Melburn Edgar, who he fondly referred to as Other Daddy.
Mike leaves behind his loving wife and caretaker, Linda, to whom he shared 47 years of marriage (talk about patience), his son, William (Gayle) Nix, his two daughters, Michele (Jacob) Buring and Melinda (Jimmy) Williams who he named so they share his same initials, and his much-adored grandchildren Daniel, Jason, and Kerry Nix; Townsend, Caleb, Linix and Elis Anna Buring; Tara Kate and James Williams, who will miss his constant advice, stories and lessons, and his very protective spirit of love.
He was the first of 8 children, leaving behind his siblings Debra Shands, Janice Parsons, Oretha Moore, Donna (Jeff) Moody, Jeff (Jamie) Nix and Kay (Mike) Redus, and 11 nieces and nephews who he treated like his children. In his hobbies, work and life, he had a vast circle of friends and colleagues and a big family who will forever remember the man who made an indelible mark on everyone he met.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his honor can be made to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Memphis, Tenn or The National Kidney Foundation.
The family invites friends to gather Monday, March 17, 2025 at 10:00am for visitation with a service at 11:30am at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, Fireside Chapel, Memphis, TN.
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