David Michael "Mike" Bishop

Funeral services for David M. “Mike” Bishop will be Thursday, May 6th. Visitation will begin at 9:30 followed by a service at 11:00 at Mulhearn Funeral Home (2308 Sterlington Road) in Monroe, La. Interment will be immediately after the funeral at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery.
Services will be led by Bobby Skeen. Pallbearers will be Brad Bishop, Justin Bishop, John Cox, Fred Spurlock, Troy Jones, Dabo Graves, Ruben “Heartbeat” Howell & Bud Balch. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom “TL” Jones, Jack Turner, & J. R. Youngblood.
Mike passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, May 2nd following a lengthy illness.
He was born on February 5th, 1947 in Monroe, La. to the union of H.E. “Bill” Bishop and Bobbie Em Laird Bishop. He was preceded in death by his parents; older brother Bing Bishop, younger brother Tim Bishop; in-laws Theron & Nola Black; brother-in-law Raymond Black, sister-in-law Dianne Hummell.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Carol Bishop, who he first met on a blind date to a Righteous Brothers concert many years ago.
He is also survived by his oldest son, Mike Bishop, Jr & wife Laura and their daughters Emily, Anne & Francie; daughter Cathy Bishop; youngest son, USAF TSgt (Ret) Chad Bishop & wife Jamie and their son Jeremy (who was absolutely PawPaw’s best buddy); sister-in-laws, Dixie Bishop, Cindy Bishop & Susan Gardner. Several nieces & nephews and many friends.
Mike was a 1965 graduate of OPHS & a 1969 graduate of Northeast La State College where he received a degree in Marketing. He also completed the Army ROTC program and upon entering military service, he was deemed to be “night blind” and was immediately discharged from service. As many family & friends know, his actual diagnosis was Choroideremia(CHM) which eventually caused a total loss of his eyesight.
Mike then began a 27 year career as a sales rep for Strauss Distributors. During his career, he & Carol also started a day care center, Carol’s Kids, that they ran together until her retirement. Mike and his business partner, Tommy Wright, also started a neighborhood bar, Fat’s Cocktail Lounge, where he enjoyed telling stories (some that were even true) with many friends and customers.
One of Mike’s proudest accomplishments was being on the East Ouachita Recreation District and then serving as the first president of East Ouachita Dixie Softball. He was also known as Coach Mike/Big Mike to many players on numerous baseball, softball, football & basketball teams.
Big Mike had many hobbies that included house boating on the Ouachita River with his “little” buddies, Greg Yarborough & Benny McCarty; cooking family meals on Sundays; watching LSU & New Orleans Saints games; watching any Western that ever came on TV; participating in gumbo or chili cookoffs with his friends; and telling stories with his many friends at Fat’s while sipping on Jim Beam.
The family would like to thank Traci Jordan, Dianne Yarborough, Stevie Scott, Dr. Kandavar, employees of Primestar Home Health & employees of Heart of Hospice.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.