Michael Curtis Batts

I moved to Asheville in 1984 to work at WKSF / WISE and Mike was one of the first good friends I made. He was a board operator and doer of other odd jobs around the place. Over the years, Mike taught me a lot about and helped me fix my car. After having a bicycle wreck at night in the radio station driveway, Mike is who drove me to the hospital (he used to drive a black Toyota Supra and I think he got me there (a distance of over five miles) in about five minutes. An ambulance couldn’t have done it better. Mike was often around the radio stations at night when I worked and made several appearances on my radio show. Among other things, he was the guy who “brought in the monkey” (I had a recording of an organ grinder with a screeching monkey…often when reading announcements or sports scores I’d say “I think this would be more fun if we had a monkey in here, can we have the monkey brought in please?” Mike (yelling from the top of the stairs): “YOU WANT THE MONKEY? OK!” I have a recording of this.) Well, my only regret is that I lost touch with Mike over the years. Over the last two years I’ve been visiting the area and looking up old friends, very sorry that I didn’t find him in time. But he’ll always live in my memories as a wonderful person and great friend.

Mike, I will carry you in my memories until I don’t have any left. You have been a good friend for over 20 years. RIP Batman!

When Mike moved from Washington State to Michigan, he came to help with the engineering at a rapidly growing telecommunications company (LDMI). We worked with some great people and many of them became his friends.
We worked together for over 10 years with 5 of those sitting side-by-side. We were a pretty formidable team. We rode motorcycles together. We stayed in regular contact when he moved back to Asheville. He tried to help me get a position working with him again earlier this year. Always willing to try and help others.
I became very familiar with his Diabetes and how to help him, if needed. Which I did numerous times. I kept harping at him to check out pumps. I was so glad when he told me he got one and that it was helping him significantly.
I got to meet his parents when they came to visit him in Michigan. Easy to see why he wanted to move back home.

My heartfelt condolences to all the people connected to Mike everywhere.

I will miss you, Mike. Thank you for everything. RIP, Brother.

I worked with Mike at Microsoft many years ago. Mike was a very kind human being, he had a great sense of humor and someone who I always enjoyed being around.

RIP my friend…..

Teresa, Robert and girls,
Much love and prayers for you and your family.

I’ve known Mike for 38 years. He was a great kid and grew into a kind, intelligent man with a big heart. Mike and I talked a couple of weeks ago and we talked about the past. He said he had a great life with very few regrets. We were planning on getting together soon. I will miss you little brother.

Condolences to all who knew and loved Mike. We were not personally acquainted with him but have been associated with our church sister Cheryl for many years. Our prayers and love at this time of heartbreak.

Mike was a colleague and a very great friend. Anyone that knew him loved him. I will miss him. Comfort and prayers to the family and Cheryl. I am so sad to see this.