Michael Eric Lilly passed away on December 22nd, 2023, in Milton, Florida, after a three-year battle with dementia caused by encephalitis. Mike is survived by his siblings Janet and James Lilly; his wife, Carol Lilly; children Christopher (Sara), Caroline (Ben Miller), and Clayton Lilly; and grandchildren Brycen, Audrey, and Crawford Miller. He is preceded in death by his parents, Durward Herbert Lilly II and Barbara Lilly.

Known as an uncommonly bright youngster, Mike was born on December 1st, 1960, in Los Angeles, California, where he was raised and graduated from Reseda Senior High School. He grew up with an affinity for rebuilding cars with his dad and listening to tales of the good ol Hollywood days from his grandpa Claude Binyon. After high school, he studied engineering and math at Cal State Northridge for a few years, but he craved a career with more human interaction, which led him to the Midwest. Mike loved the magic of the restaurant industry and lived through the mantra of “we have 45 minutes to change people’s lives. Go change lives today.”

In St. Louis, Missouri, he met and worked with his future wife, Carol, and would end up marrying her on April 15, 1985. The two moved to Dallas and ended up buying their first house together in Carrollton, Texas. All three of their children were born there. In Texas, Mike worked for Tia’s Tex Mex and Applebee’s for more than 30 years. He helped build Tia’s from one restaurant to a successful chain and was in charge of operations for dozens of Appleebee’s. Not one to shy away from any kind of work, Mike could be seen rolling up the sleeves on his dress shirt and working on the line in the kitchen on any given day…whatever it took to help the team. One thing that he took ultimate pride in was getting to work alongside Caroline and Christopher as they became servers at Appleebee’s. Speaking of the joy Mike had in his children’s achievements, he would tell anybody and everybody about Clayton’s latest academic milestones as he became the next “uncommonly bright youngster” in a long line of brilliant Lillys.

Mike had a huge heart and loved every second he had with his wife of 38 years, his children, grandchildren, and the rest of his family near and far. If you ever met Mike, you’ll know that bellowing deep laugh. He lived to make people smile, laugh, and feel loved. That also goes to his friends who became family, like Doug Hanks and so many others. Anyone who crossed paths with Mike was beloved by him, and he was always the biggest cheerleader.

An aficionado of good music and movies, Mike enjoyed things that brought people together. At home, he was always cooking up amazing dinners and trying new recipes because that was his happy place. A perfect weekend for him included a little of all three things and maybe a nap on the couch.

A hospitalization in 2020 for an infection ultimately changed Mike’s life and his family’s forever. These past few years have been traumatizing, but we have some peace knowing he is no longer suffering. Carol never left his side, even at the most disheartening, challenging, and even dangerous moments of his battle with dementia. It is because of her that he was not forgotten and died knowing that he was loved.

Rest in peace Mike Lilly. Thank you for changing our lives. 

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