Michael David Salinas

Michael David Salinas August 30, 1976- March 27, 2018

I was born here in Bryan on August 30, 1976. My dad, Arturo, is retired now but when I grew up he worked for the City of Bryan. My mom, Maria, retired from Ken Martin’s Steakhouse. I grew up as the third of four kids – I was lucky to be so close to my brother Arturo “Turi” Jr. and sisters Melissa “Missy” and Jessica “Jess.” As a kid, I always knew how to make my own way. I raised all kinds of animals such as chickens, roosters, and pigeons. I loved running around in the woods catching crawfish with my buddies. My friends from the neighborhood and I used to love to run around at the baseball park. As I grew into a teenager, I developed an interest in cars. My ’64 Impala low-rider was my favorite. I’m not going to lie; I was not really interested in school too much. I pretty much went because I had to, not because I liked it, although I did enjoy track. I was pretty good at it.

Life changed a lot for me when I was sixteen and met my beautiful wife Angelica “Kika” at Taco Bell. It was love at first sight. We had kids pretty quick, so I had to work really hard to provide for my family, but it was worth it. My kids meant everything to me, so I never saw the work as a hardship. I just did whatever I could to support them. I liked being involved in their extra curricular activities. Kika and I were married for 18 years, and were together for 25. We got married November 7, 1999 at St. Teresa’s – the same day my youngest daughter Brianna was baptized. I loved every minute I had with Kika. I loved to make her smile. I looked forward to retiring some day and traveling with “my woman,” “my hot mess,” “my monkey,” “my LOVE.”
From working so hard, I learned pretty quickly I wanted to be my own boss. I started Mike’s Pest Control, and I enjoyed that. I owned the business for 15 years. I liked killing bugs, but I hated it when they had snake problems. I DID NOT like snakes. I loved my customers and had a pretty close relationship with many of them. I remember one time I had a customer who was in need, so I helped him out with two brand new mattresses and comforters. I liked being able to help people. I worked really hard, and my dad used to tell me to slow down. I always told him, “I’ll rest when I die.” When I wasn’t working, I loved going hog hunting every chance I got. My buddies Matt and Sly and I would go out and hunt for hours.

My very best times were with my family. I used to love getting everyone together to go camping in the RV in Huntsville. We had fun together playing cards. I remember one time when I played with my sister Missy. She beat me a couple of times and laughed at me. I beat her the next few hands. I got to laughing so hard I started to hyperventilate and had to take a few breaths into a bag before I could settle down. I loved playing games with my family. I used to always tell them, “If you ain’t cheatin’, you ain’t tryin’.” I loved being goofy and making everybody laugh. Easter was my favorite holiday. I used to run around breaking cascarones. When they ran out, I was known to break a few real eggs on people’s heads. I made an amazing brisket, I made “the juiciest, tastiest, brisket in town.” It was so good it would make you “wanna slap yo mama” and so everyone always asked me to make it. I loved to eat, and drink coffee with my LOVE. Waffle House was the best – unless I could convince my wife to make her pineapple upside down cake for me. I would let her know, “that good right there boy.”

I was blessed to have a great family. I leave behind my beautiful wife Angelica “Kika” Salinas, my daughter and son-in-law Alyssa Salinas-Agundiz and Adrian Agundiz, my daughter Yvonne “Bonnie” Salinas, my daughter Brianna Salinas, my son Michael “Mikey” Salinas, my parents Arturo and Maria Salinas, my brother Arturo “Turi” Salinas Jr, my sister and brother-in-law Melissa “Missy” and James Molis, my sister and brother-in-law Jessica “Jess” and Todd Kubiak, and many many nieces, nephews, cousins, sisters & brothers-in-law, and friends that are like family.

To celebrate my life, my family has planned a visitation for me from 5 to 8 PM on Tuesday, April 3, 2018 at Hillier Funeral Home of Bryan. A Celebration Gathering will begin at 10 AM with a Celebration of Life to begin at 11 on Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at Sky Break Church. Interment will follow at Bryan City Cemetery.