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Michael Garland affectionately known as “Mike” to his friends and family passed away on April 22, 2024 at the home of his daughter and son in-law in Ellicott City.  Mike was born on March 25, 1954 in Baltimore, MD to Jack and Mildred Garland.  He grew up in Catonsville along with his siblings, eventually settling for most of his adult life in Sykesville, MD before retiring to live by the water in Bath, NC. 

Mike graduated from Catonsville Senior High School in 1972 and pursued a career in the electrical field starting as an apprentice at Ridgeway Electric.  He became a licensed master electrician with his own contracting business for 25 years.  He had a love for the process involved in designing homes and guiding homeowners. 

In 1973, he married his high school sweetheart, Helen Hart and they built a life together with their daughter, Kelly. Mike has three grandchildren that he often boasted about with great pride and his face was always lit up when his grandchildren were around.  He became known to all of us as “Pap”. 

Mike was always busy with activities and projects.  He loved to be by the water, whether just sitting still and watching, fishing, crabbing or boating.  He loved to take the grandchildren tubing and wakeboarding or hangout by the pier with his dog, Chase.  Many wonderful memories were made on Bath Creek and at the ocean.  You would also find him gardening and mowing the grass on the John Deere sometimes for hours.  His specialty in the kitchen was homemade soup and he was often asked to make crab soup for gatherings.  He was a drummer for many years and was happy when music was playing and would play his drum set along with the stereo.  He also dabbled in woodworking and anything construction.  All his many, many tools had a place. 

Mike was a generous man.  He delighted in helping others and sharing his tools, garden vegetables, soup and time.  Also learning new things and sharing knowledge was important to him.  His warm smile and offbeat “Pap” jokes are going to be important memories to give us comfort when we are missing him. 

He is predeceased by his parents Mildred McMahan and Jack Garland and his brother, J. Kevin Garland. 

Mike’s memory is honored and kept alive by his loving wife, Helen, his Daughter Kelly Vengroski (John), his grandchildren Ian, Julianne, and Aaron,  his sister Jacqueline Barnes (Greg), Brother in-law Gregory Hart (Barbara), Sister in-law Mary Davis (Mike), Sister in-law Anne Reid (Steve), Sister in-law Jennifer Cook (Rick), Brother in-law Michael Hart (Vickie) and Sister in-law Katie Reymann (Joe) along with several beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and friends from Maryland and North Carolina. 

A Memorial Service to honor and celebrate Mike’s life will be held on April 28, 2024 at Candle Light Funeral Home. 

If you would like to donate something in honor of Mike, please consider Howard County Special Olympics which has been an important service for his grandson, Aaron.