Michael Stephen Jarrell

Celebration of Life for Mike Jarrell

It is with profound love and cherished memories that we announce the passing of our beloved Michael Stephen Jarrell, who left us peacefully on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the age of 72. Born in Huntington, WV on December 18, 1952, Mike touched the lives of all who knew him with kindness, generosity, and an infectious spirit.

From an early age, Mike demonstrated a passion for life and devotion to family, friends, and community. After attending Marshall University in Huntington and graduating from the University of Kentucky, he pursued a career at GTE in Lexington where he met and worked side-by-side with a woman named Shirley Dukes. He maintained a lifelong friendship with Shirley, who would surprise him with her homemade chocolate chip cookies throughout his illness, the cookies and Shirley brought a smile to his face when she arrived. Shirley was with him the night he passed peacefully from this realm to the next.

A lifelong fan of the restaurant business, Mike opened his own restaurant called Mike's Sub Shop on the University of Kentucky campus. Somewhere between his life at GTE and his life in the restaurant business he met Donald E. Taylor, with whom he proceeded to make a life with for 44 years. Don and his daughter Donna were also with Mike the night his journey ended here and began in heaven. Mike & Don's 44th anniversary was the day after Mike's passing, October 17th. Mike was always very proud of their anniversary; he would call Don's daughter Donna every year and ask the same question "Do you know what today is?" It only took her a couple of years to catch on, but she'd always say, "no Mike, what is today?" He would gleefully tell her it's my and your father's anniversary.

Mike worked briefly for LexMark in Public relations as well as being restaurant manager at a place called W.W. Cousins in Lexington. After Cousins closed in Lexington, Mike pursued a new career in real estate, eventually opening his own real estate office as a broker called First Nations Realty, where he worked until his fight with colorectal cancer became too much. There were many real estate agents and staff who worked for Mike over the years. One such employee, Mike Callan (Mike Jarrell & Don Taylor always referred to him as "little Mike" to avoid confusion) remained a close friend across the years, throughout his education earning a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, passing the bar exam and admission to the Kentucky bar. Mike was so proud of "little Mike" and when times got tough during his illness, "little Mike" was always there for him.

A lover of food, Mike filled every day with the joy of cooking and eating. Before his cancer diagnosis, and even after, long and short road trips were filled with food stops along the way. If you traveled with Mike and Don on weekend trips, embracing the adventure and the many stops for food was a necessary evil. There were never too many places to stop and eat as far as Mike was concerned. A very favorite place where he liked to shop for food was Kroger's on Euclid. Mike had an office on one side of Kroger's, and when he was forced to find a new office, he hopped right across the parking lot and opened an office on the other side of Kroger's. He must've visited that Kroger's a dozen times a day, or at least it seemed like that to many. He made friends with many of the employees of Kroger's; many of whom inquired about his cancer fight up until the very end.

Michael Stephen Jarrell leaves behind a legacy of love and unity, survived by his partner Donald E. Taylor, Don's daughter Donna Taylor-Sturgeon, best girlfriend Shirley Dukes, his Attorney Mike Callan, niece Kem Johnson Ray and her husband Allan Miller of Arkansas and countless great nephews and friends who will forever cherish his memory.

A celebration of Mike's life will be held on Tue, October 28th at McConnell Springs Park, 416 Rebmann Lane, Lexington, KY 40504, at 2:30pm, where stories will be shared and his vibrant spirit honored. All who were touched by his presence are welcome to join in remembrance and joy. Allan Miller will officiate. A burial service will be conducted at Lexington Cemetery on Monday November 3, 2025 at 2:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to AVOL Kentucky Inc., 1824 Hill Rise Drive, Suite 100, Lexington, KY 40504, reflecting Mike's commitment to helping others. May he rest in peace and may the light of his love continue to guide and inspire us all.

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