Michael Taylor Mahood

Michael Taylor Mahood, age 45, of Pensacola, Florida was welcomed into his heavenly home on April 17, 2024. Michael was born in Tampa, Florida on October 4, 1978 to Ronald and Sandra Mahood. He was married to Reynalyn Mendoza Mahood for 20 years. He made a profession of faith and was baptized at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Florida. In recent years he went forward to join the membership of Marcus Pointe Baptist Church in Pensacola, Florida. He leaves behind a family who loves him deeply and looks forward to seeing him again. After graduating from Countryside High School in Clearwater, FL in 1998, Michael entered into active duty in the United Sates Air Force in 1999. He completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, then served as a Security Forces Craftsman for seven years. His first duty station was MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, FL. He was subsequently stationed at Osan Air Force Base in South Korea, where he met his wife, Reyna. He later served in the Gulf War in Iraq and Afghanistan. Michael’s final assignment was at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana, where he was assigned to a DOE Defensive Nuclear Site. Michael received numerous personal awards and medals during his military career, including the Air Force Achievement Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals, Outstanding Unit Award, Basic Force Protection Badge and Security Police Shield. Michael achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant before leaving the Air Force via Honorable Discharge in 2006. Michael then worked as a civilian employee for NAS Pensacola for over 14 years, where he served in the Security Department and was named Civilian of the Quarter. He was proud of his work as a security officer and at the Welcome Station on the base, where he made many friends and engaged with visitors from all over the world. Michael never met a stranger in life. The highlight of his time at NAS was working with the Blue Angels. He welcomed their friends and families to the base and helped expedite security clearances for their visits. Michael made friends with several Blue Angels who knew they could call his cell when they needed assistance - even on his days off. In return, the Blue Angels honored Michael with VIP parking passes to their shows, led his family on a private tour of their home base, and awarded him a plaque for his dedicated service. Michael’s greatest gift was love. He maintained a lifelong love for the Gulf of Mexico’s peaceful surf, learning to skim board soon after learning to walk. He developed a knack for balancing on a board, which led to skate boarding and surfing from a very young age-two hobbies he continued for the rest of his life. An early interest in golf earned him a spot on the Countryside High School team, and he later embarked on several cross-country golfing trips with his father, Ron, attending the Master’s Golf Tournament in Augusta, Georgia, as well as tournaments in Pebble Beach, California. He loved his cats and found great comfort in their companionship. He loved music and singing Karaoke with his wife and cousins. He was the beloved family comedian and the one who made everyone laugh. There are all kinds of heroes in this world. Michael was the quiet kind. He served his country, worked hard, took care of his wife and mother, loved his family and friends, fought hard to be strong and left a legacy of love for all who knew and loved him. Michael was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Mahood, his step-father, Barry Jon Huster, and his grandparents, Wayne and Dorothy Taylor and Roland and Anne Mahood. Michael is survived by Reynalyn Mendoza Mahood, wife, Sandra Huster, mother, Megan Strickland Rhea, sister (Rachel), Dana Huster, step-sister, Jason Huster, step-brother, Gervielyn Mendoza, step-daughter, Lauren Strickland, niece, Kizzie Rhea, niece, Susan Anderson, aunt (David), Stephanie Davis, aunt (Dusty), Charles Taylor, uncle (Holly), Yvonne Mahood, aunt, James Mahood, uncle (Ginny), Patricia Mahood, aunt, Susan Mahood, aunt, and fifteen Taylor and Mahood cousins, who will miss his jokes and continue to celebrate his kind, joyful spirit at family gatherings forever. Funeral Service will be Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 11:30 AM, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home South. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, on Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at the funeral home. Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery, NAS, Pensacola, Florida. Pallbearers will be Dusty Davis, Taylor Davis, Jason Fleming, Jason Huster and Mark Mendoza. In lieu of flowers please make a donation, in Michael’s memory, to the charity of your choice.

Tributes

Michael Taylor Mahood

October 4, 1978 - April 17, 2024