Charles Michael Brock, 70, of Greenville, Texas, passed away on May 7, 2012, at the Medical Center of Plano with his wife and children at his side. Mike was born November 19, 1941, in Cooper, Texas, the son of Charles and Dorothy Brock. After living in Brenham during his younger years, the family moved to Terrell, Texas, where Mike attended Terrell High School and was active in sports and music. He played both football and baseball while also performing with the choir and participating in musicals, most notably as Will Parker in Oklahoma! Mike graduated from Terrell High School in 1960 and pursued his passion in music at East Texas State College in Commerce, where he was also a member of Alpha Phi Omega, a national service fraternity. There he met his future wife, Patricia Anne Arrington, and they were married shortly before he graduated with a Bachelor of Music Education in 1964.
Mike’s first teaching position was choir director at Greenville Jr. High in 1964. He successfully worked on a Master of Education at East Texas State University during his time at Greenville and was awarded that degree in 1969. In 1968, Mike took the position of choir director for Marshall High School where he remained for fifteen years. While in Marshall, he served as choir director at the First United Methodist Church until 1972, then with the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church until 1983. Highlights of his time in Marshall were his directing the Texas Youth Chorale on their 1982 European Tour, serving as a member of the Fred Waring summer workshop staff at East Stroudsburg State University in Pennsylvania, and having his choir invited to perform in front of the Texas State Teacher’s Association.
Leaving Marshall, Mike accepted the position of choir director at Brazoswood High School in Clute, Texas, thus moving his family down to the Gulf Coast in 1983. As was the custom, Mike also became choir director at a local church, Chapelwood United Methodist Church, and once again had the honor of directing the Texas Youth Chorale on their 1985 European Tour. Mike left the Gulf Coast in 1989 and headed to San Antonio where he spent two years as choir director at MacArthur High School. He made his way back to his beginnings in Greenville where he finished his professional career, forty years in music education, as choir director at Greenville High School. While there he was awarded the district’s prestigious title of Key Communicator, was named Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers twice, and named an Ambassador by the Texas A&M University-Commerce Alumni Association. He also served as choir director at the First Presbyterian Church of Greenville and retired from there in 2000.
Mike retired from teaching in 2004 and spent his free time gardening, doing yard work, and caring for his mother until her death in 2011. He also served on the Paris Junior College Alumni and Friends Board. He joined Kavanaugh United Methodist Church and actively served as a member of the Chancel and Handbell choirs and on numerous church committees. His talent and success in what he loved doing is evidenced by a long list of accomplishments, including fifty-nine sweepstakes choirs and sixty-four All-State students. He was elected vocal chairman in UIL/TMEA Regions IV and XVII, and elected as a member of the State UIL Advisory Board, UIL/TMEA Region Advisory Committee, and TMEA State Board of Directors.
Mike is survived by his wife of 47 years, Pat Brock of Greenville; three sons, John Brock and wife Trudy of Jenks, Oklahoma, Lance Brock and Mariela of Seabrook, Texas, and Steven Brock of Greenville; two daughters, Marie Brock of Greenville, and Wendy Kelley and husband Dayne of Tyler; six grandchildren, Mandy Kelley of Webster, Texas, Conner and Becca Kelley of Tyler, Ben and Beth Brock of Jenks, Oklahoma, and Seth Brock and wife Nikole of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; one great granddaughter, Arriana Grace Brock of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
A memorial service celebrating Mike’s life will be held at Kavanaugh United Methodist Church in Greenville, Texas, at 2 pm on Saturday, May 12. All friends, family, and former students whose lives were touched by Mike Brock are welcome. Any former students or friends who have performed with Mike and would like to sing the special music with the choir at his service are asked to please call the church office at 903-455-2869 for details. In honor of Mike, donations are being accepted for the Kavanaugh United Methodist Church Scholarship Fund for the Texas A&M-Commerce music education students.
For more information or to express condolences, visit www.cokermathews.com
