Mike Smoke Hennessey

Mike (Smoke) Hennessey 53, of Lake George, Colorado and formerly of Carmichaels, Pa., passed away on Monday, February 14, 2011 after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was born May 17, 1957, the son of Barbara Hennessey of Carmichaels, Pa. and the late Patrick Hennessey. Mike was a 1975 graduate of Carmichaels Area Jr. Sr. High School. He was employed as a mechanical designer for the past fifteen years. Mike had also been employed as a long haul trucker, bridge and steel painter and a tow boat crewman. He served his country in the U. S. Army and was honorably discharged as a sergeant in 1979. Mike was an avid outdoorsman, who loved bow hunting elk, fly-fishing and competing in benchrest rifle matches. He was a member of the Divide Rifle Shooter's Association, the National Bench Rest Shooter's Association and the International Benchrest Shooters. Up until his passing, Mike was looking forward to and preparing to compete against the world's top Benchrest shooters this coming Spring. He also enjoyed riding and working on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Mike was loved by many and remembered by all. He lived his life with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. If a subject sparked his curiosity, he spent countless hours learning about it. Mike was also a very "hands on" type of individual. His family remembers Mike by many things, most of which were his sense of humor, his smile, his laugh, and his big heart. He would do anything for his family and friends. Another quality Mike was known for was his "pull no punch" attitude. He did not believe in beating around the bush about anything and would always let you know with honesty how he felt about something. He did this in a straight forward manner, and "what you saw with Mike, was what you got." Surviving are his wife, Wendie (Ellsworth) Hennessey; two daughters Melinda Blasinsky of Eastlake, Ohio and Amber Hennessey of Carmichaels, Pa. and a sister, Kimberly Hennessey Ray of York, Pa. Mike will be in his family's hearts and minds forever. A memorial service is planned to be held in Colorado.