Orford, NH – Michael Lewis "Mike" Dyke, 63, lifelong resident of Orford, NH died in his home early Monday morning, May 18, 2020. He was born January 14, 1957 in his parents home in Orford, less than 2 miles from where he passed away. He was the son of George C. and Beulah B. (Bockus) Dyke.

He attended grade school in town, and subsequently graduated from Orford High School in 1975.  Mike married his high school sweetheart, Mary, on May 17, 1980.  They built their own home on Sunday Mountain, and it is also where they raised their only son. Mike stuck close to the mountain and had a daily route around it.  His hometown is where he most enjoyed spending his time.

He spent most of his life working outside starting at his father's company, Linrock Drilling & Blasting, and also at a local garage. Afterwards, he went to work for Connecticut Valley Trucking driving a tractor trailer. For the next thirty years, Mike hauled logs and moved heavy equipment. He also plowed out neighboring driveways in the winter. Most recently he spent his time working in the woods, clearing lots for his friends and family.

Mike was not comfortable with crowds or closed in spaces. He told his son, Patrick, on a recent visit to his office that there was no way he could ever work in a cubicle or in an office building. He needed the open space of the outdoors. As a matter of fact, about the only "indoor" place you could regularly find Mike, besides his home, was at Roger's garage or at Archies pool table with his close group of friends.

Mike was especially proud of his son and he could often be found working in the garage together with him or helping him with numerous home renovation projects.  He was also enamored with his grandson, Aven, and his eyes lit up when he saw him. The feeling was mutual as Aven would excitedly get dressed and run outside to plow with his Papa in each snowstorm. Mike was handy and innovative from all of the years that he spent driving on the road by himself, and as such, he was the go to person in the family any time someone needed help or had a question. His legacy and knowledge will live on through his son and grandson and in their skills.

During his life, few would have described him as a romantic, yet during his last few days he revealed a different side as he willed himself to live long enough to make it to his 40th wedding anniversary with Mary on Sunday, May 17 ^th .  During a recent hospitalization, he mentioned to his nurse that his 40 ^th wedding anniversary was approaching and that he really hoped to make it until then. Mike spent his final day overlooking his mountain and was serenaded by a parade of trucks and cars filled with friends and family honking and cheering to celebrate their anniversary and to say goodbye.  After the parade was over,  he visited for the last time with his siblings, in-laws and his beloved wife, son, daughter in-law and grandson.  He died quietly in his sleep during the night after his anniversary was over.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, his dog, Toby, son Patrick Dyke and his wife, Christine and his grandson, Aven, of Orford, NH, brothers, Alan (Jeannie)Dyke, Terry Dyke of Orford, NH, four sisters, Sherry Dyke, Connie (Steve – more friend than brother-in-law) Ball of Orford, NH, Barbara (Dale) Gray and Kathy (Mark) Irle of Florida. A brother-in-law and a best friend for life in Donnie Pushee (girlfriend Bonnie Philbrick) of Orford/Lebanon NH, four sister-in-laws, Susan (Skip) Barrett of Bradford, VT, Shirley (Skip) Gould of Orford, NH, Sally (Tom) Blodgett of Enfield, NH, Lois (Dave) Rondeau of Lyme, NH as well as many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by a garage full of the best kind of friends a man could ask for.

He will be remembered always for his quick wit, truck driving skills, his ability to operate any heavy equipment, and for his love of Budweiser, whiskey, cigarettes and some of the funniest trucking stories around town. He will be missed when it snows and the plow truck drives by, when someone needs to get an engine going, needs to get a jumpstart, or to get pulled out of a ditch.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date, to be announced.

Condolences to his family may be made at an online guest book at www.knightfuneralhome.com

Please raise your glass at 5pm wherever you are and send a toast of friendship and gratitude to our Mike.