"Dear Everyone Blessed to have shared time and love with Michael-Mike-Mikey. I was fortunate to be his little sister and I, too, am wondering how to encapsulate my love and respect for him. I don\'t think I can encapsulate it, so, here goes! He was SOOOOOOO BEYOND THE NORM/ CREATIVE/ TALENTED/ FUNNY/ WITTY/ BRILLIANT/ CARING/ OPEN-HEARTED/ DEVOTED/ HANDSOME...I adored his puns and loved to roar with laughter at them, to which Ruby would laughingly implore, \"Please!Don\'t encourage him!\" I remember he loved the type of pun that made reference to a common phrase while changing it around into a joke. This one is based on Simon and Garfunkle\'s song...A woman named Rosemary is concerned about how wise her son will be, so she goes to the Guru and asks about him. After a long journey of words the joke ends: Partially sage, Rosemary, in time.\" I\'m still chuckling at it...seeing the wiiiiiide grin on his face as he delighted in the punch line. On the SS United States, traveling from NY City to London, I was 6 and he was 14 when he taught me how to play the exceedingly simple card game \"War\". Years later I showed him the same deck of cards with the ship\'s picture on it and he laughingly expressed regret for having taught me as I was relentlessy after him to play it with me until we docked. Mikey broadened my experience of the world. When I was 10 he took me on my first hike which was in the beautiful Adirondacks. He so appreciated nature! Then when I was 18 he drove me in his Austin Healey with the top down so we could enjoy the sunrise as we entered Yosemite Valley. I had been falling asleep and he startled me awake by gently squeezing my left shoulder and saying in a voice out of nowhere as if he were performing an evaluation, \"Hmmm, soft shoulder...\" and I looked up just in time to see a road sign indicating \"Soft Shoulder\" go by. I\'m 66 and I\'m still laughing at that. We started the hike to the top of Nevada Falls and as we went he carefully instructed me about how to keep our gear (and, I was thinking, ourselves) safe from the bears. As we set up camp by the river near the falls I can still hear his voice saying \"Never leave your camp before you put your food up in the trees.\" Then we heard neighboring campers struggling to set up their camp and he was off to assist with \"Little Phyllis\" following close behind. A little while later, we heard clanging coming from our site and sure enough, it was a bear tearing into one of our backpacks we had left on the ground. He ran toward it waving his arms and hollering and chased it away. Matter of factly he said after the bear left, \" It\'ll be back, it knows we have food here...\" I didn\'t know how he did it, but he managed to sleep peacefully throughout the night, while I was on full alert, face-up in my sleeping bag, listening to the sound made by every pebble that moved in the river and watching in wide-eyed-fear, straining my peripheral vision for bears and seeing the crystal clear constellations rotating through space all night long. The next morning I asked him how he was able to sleep and he said, \"Easy! I knew you would be awake all night!\" When I reminded him of this event his version of the story made it sound less like we hadn\'t followed his advice! In my early 30\'s he took me skiing at Crystal Mountain in \'Washington. I was a novice, having only skied with him 3 times many years before. We were on the lift, just the two of us, and he told me the name of the run at which we were going to get off..and I was so happy to be with him and was chatting away as I watched with disbelief and ensuing panic as he smoothly slipped off the seat at one of the stations and I didn\'t. Oh, My Goodness!!!! I looked up in front of me and saw that the lift appeared to go straight UP to the Black Diamond run. I was about as frightened as I have ever been... hearing the wind whisper my name... Because Mikey was Mikey, when I got to the next (and last) station I was consoled to be told that he was on his way up. And he guided me gently, encouragingly, and patiently down the seemingly never-ending run as I slid mostly on my back and rearo-endo. More recently he lovingly helped me put myself back together after each and every spectacular \"Yard Sale\" I had as I unintentionally took flight when skiing with him at Sun Peaks in Canada scattering my skis, poles and various articles of clothing over assorted patches of the mountain. Ahhh, yes, fun times with Mikey! And certainly never a dull moment! He brought more love and joy into my heart when he brought Ruby and then Carla into my life! The fun, funny, loving, kind, compassionate and intelligent sisters I had always wanted! Mikey was there for me in my good times and in my total-state-of-confusion times. I deeply loved him and continue to receive warmth and support from knowing him. He was a gracious gentle man. With deep love and appreciation, Phyllis "
In loving memory of
Michael Wilmon Ayer
April 3, 1947 - March 27, 2020
Michael Wilmon Ayer, 72, of Austin, Texas, passed away on March 27, 2020. Michael was born in Bethesda, Maryland on April 3, 1947. He was the son of Wilmon H. Ayer and Virginia C. Golla Ayer and had 1 brother, Roger, and 1 sister, Phyllis. Michael's dad was a captain in the Navy and the family lived in many places as called for during his father's career. He spoke fondly of his memories of living in London as a teenager while the family was stationed there.
Michael graduated high school in 1965 from J.E.B. Stuart in Falls Church, VA. He went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Double Major in Computer Science and Physics from the University of California Berkeley in 1969. He also received a Master of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering from The University of Santa Clara California in 1974. Michael also attended Stanford University in the Engineering-Economic Systems Program.
Michael met his wife Ruby in 1987. They married in 1991 and would enjoy 28 years together filled with love, laughter, family, hard work and world travels.
When Michael was asked what he did for a living he would always tell people that the last job he actually got paid for was that of an opera singer. He would also tell people that he had been a physicist and a farmer and was currently a real estate investor.
Michael loved to sing. He had a very rich and beautiful baritone voice. He was in the Glee Club in college and sang with several local music theatre companies in the areas that he lived over the years. During his years in Austin, Texas he was a member of the Austin Lyric Opera. He performed 15 operas with them.
When travelling he would occasionally sing while on vacation. Some of the most memorable locations were, in Antarctica in an old whale oil container, in Cowgill, Missouri on the most beautiful handmade bridge, in the Caverns of Sonora in Texas and at the Sydney Opera House in Australia. Michael had a great love and appreciation for music.
Michael with his wife by his side, loved the great outdoors, loved to travel, loved photography and loved to take underwater videos while scuba diving. They had a group of folks from Austin that they had traveled with for 25 years. Adventure travel was what they enjoyed most. They had the privilege of visiting all 7 continents. Even so, there was so much more they wanted to see together.
Michael spent the last few years working to turn a dream into a reality. He had a piece of land with a beautiful view. This land was to become the sight of his gorgeous office building - Davenport 360. He was proud of his accomplishments and rightly so. Michael saw his building completed in 2019. Davenport 360 will stand as his legacy.
Michael is survived by and is greatly missed by his loving wife, Ruby Ayer of Austin, Texas, his brother Roger and wife Stella of Florida and Roger's son Ferenc and his family of Virginia, his sister Phyllis of Washington and her son Tyler and daughter Mikaela of Washington. Michael had no biological children but had 3 stepchildren that he very much considered his own. His daughter Jessica of California, his son David of Illinois and his daughter Christine of Texas. Michael's in laws Carl & Linda of Texas, his sister in law, Carla of Texas and her son Zach and his family of Texas, Michael's cousins Nancy, Dan and Dale all from California. Michael leaves behind a lot of family and friends that loved him and will always remember him for the kind and loving person that he was.
A Celebration of Life will be planned when we are all able to gather together again. If you would like to make a memorial donation, Michael was a great believer in giving back to the veterans who have given so much.
Tributes
"I worked for Mr. Ayer as the property manager for the Davenport 360 building. In my 20+ years of property management I have worked for many owner/investors, but none quite like Mike. He was the most intelligent person I have worked for from knowing the distinct operation of electrical systems, to structural design and information technology. I spoke to him almost every day in 2020. I would consider him a friend and mentor as he would often take the time to teach me how a building system operated with glee. At times we would laugh about old movies or sing a chorus from a musical we both liked. He would speak often of his plans on taking his wife on an extensive journey around the word to visit exotic locations once his Davenport 360 was complete. He loved to brag about Ruby and her gift of photography and dreamed of showcasing her work in the building. He worked hard but was always available with a kind word. I felt by calling him Mr. Ayer in lieu of Mike, I was showing my respect for him. I will miss him very much and my deepest sympathy goes out to Ruby. Victoria Owan "
"So sorry to hear of Mike?s passing. We were neighbors on Native Dancer in the 90?s. The family will be in my prayers. Sherri (FKA Patten) Pickett"
"Our hearts are overflowing with love and sadness. I only new Uncle Mike for a short amount of time, but everything that he and Ruby have done for my husband Zachary will always be remembered. Zachary has such fond memories about spending family times and all the wonderful family vacations. I feel so blessed for the day the kids and I got to spend swimming and making pizzas with him and Aunt Ruby. I am so glad we all have had a chance to be a part of such a wonderful family. We will love and miss Uncle Mike so very much. "
"Michael ?Mike? Ayer was a larger-than-life man. Uniquely multi-talented, extremely intelligent, gifted and witty, kind and gentlemanly, he had a twinkle in his eye to accompany his great smile. I met Mike and Ruby only a few weeks after I met Jeff. We attended an opera where Michael sang in the chorus. Ruby and he welcomed me into their friendship with Jeff and I soon felt as if I had always been a part. Jeff and I never failed to observe Michael?s love, respect, affinity and admiration for you, Ruby, his wife and best friend. We will always fondly and with gratitude and respect, remember Michael. "
"Except for the professional poets or people such as Mike who know how to turn a phrase and work a witty pun, words are mostly fleeting. I could stare at this screen all day and never do justice to the thoughts and memories. Mike was constantly a part of my life, starting before I can honestly recall if the memories are my own or just a regurgitation of the stories I\'ve heard time and time again. He always stepped in at the right time, with a smile and a can-do attitude. From my formative years, when as example my soccer coach quit without notice, he stepped in and took on a team of 7/8 year olds, teaching himself only moments before trying to instill the wisdom in us. We never won, scored only a few goals, but everyone showed for every practice because we had fun and more importantly, ice cream after every game. During the metamorphosis from those early childhood crisis\'s to the adult ones - college research papers, the first purchase with more digits than the bank account statement, wading into the world of finance, fighting the morally corrupt, recovering from natural disasters, etc. - Mike was always there, always. Of course, with many jovial adventures and travels along the way. The lighthouse might not be tended, but the beacon still shines true. Love you forever!"
"I always wanted a big brother, and I thank you my dear sister Ruby for falling in love with quite a remarkable man and sharing Michael with our family. I appreciate his dignified and proper approach to things but loved it when he told a story or made a joke that we could all relate to. It was great to hear his laughter. He also shared his love of music and song. It was a pleasure to hear him sing from his heart. There have been many times throughout my life when you and Michael graciously offered assistance, filled a need and showed me that dreams can come true. As I expressed appreciation for his kindness, his response was always ?my pleasure!? Michael would always spare my feelings and felt he was blessed by helping others. We never forget our dear loved ones. We never lose hope as long as we appreciate each new day and chose to honor those we miss by imitating their strengths, kindness and generosity. Michael has been a dear brother to me, a genuine friend. I am blessed and humbled to be his sister. Carla "
"Dearest Ruby - Loving you and sending you a few photos of memorable times you, Michael, Steve and I spent time together. And one of Michael\'s Aunt Dot (my Mom, Dorothy Elizabeth Ayer Powers, 8/24/1919 to 9/10/2018) who loved you both very much."
"I am not much of a writer and words do not come to me easily. I found it very hard to write my husbands obituary. How can you pay tribute to the person that was your whole world. Those of you who knew Michael know that he had the kindest and most loving heart.He was witty and loved a good pun. We had an amazing life together and I feel like an empty shell without him. He had a beautiful smile. I miss you and love you Michael. Your loving wife, Ruby"