Michael Edward Geary died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at River Region Medical Center. He was 63.

Born in Vicksburg, he was the son of the late Robert Arnot Geary Jr. and Eleanor Wade Geary. Mr. Geary was a 1964 graduate of St. Aloysius High School and attended Hinds Junior College.  He served in the Marine Corps and Marine Corps Reserve from July 21, 1965, to April 19, 1971. He was a firefighter with the Vicksburg Fire Department from Jan. 6, 1986, until his retirement as a lieutenant on Sept. 12, 2008. Lt. Geary was a recipient of numerous fire department and police department certificates and awards including his state certification as a driver/operator for aerial apparatus. He was a Christian and was loved by many.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia “Pat” Geary of Vicksburg; three  daughters, Jennifer Bassett and her husband, Jim, Eleanor Jones and her husband Jason, all of Brandon, and Becky Childress and her husband, Matt, of Lynchburg, Tenn.; two sons, Robert Hood Jr. and his wife, Elouise Fay, of Vicksburg and Randall Hood of San Diego; a sister, Ann Laird and her husband, Jim, of Tallulah; three brothers, Bob Geary and his wife, Marilyn, of Vicksburg, Wade Geary and his wife, Gail, of Atlanta and Jack Geary and his wife, Linda, of Jackson; and five grandchildren, Josh, Jordan, Wade, Neal and Bobby.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Connie Stubbs Geary. 

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Riles Funeral Home with Dr. Jeff Holland officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Friday until the service.

Memorials may be made to the Mississippi Firefighters Memorial Burn Association, 161 Pine Ridge Circle, Brandon, MS 39047.       

Pallbearers will be Judge Johnny Price, Pat Ring, Richard Hanks, Robert Hood, Kevin Sharpe, Randy Stubbs, Josh Bassett and Jordan Bassett.

Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Vicksburg Fire Department.