C. Michael Kavanaugh

Christopher Michael ‘Mike’ Kavanaugh passed away peacefully on October 25, 2025, at age 84, with his wife and daughters by his side. He was born August 16, 1941, in Oklahoma City to Marjorie Shipley Kavanaugh and AJ ‘Al’ Kavanaugh. Michael leaves behind his loving wife of forty-nine years, Jennifer Ann Jensen Kavanaugh of Edmond and his two daughters, Teresa Elaine Kavanaugh of Oklahoma City, and Aubrey Ann Kavanaugh of Edmond. Additionally, he leaves behind his baby-sis, M. Virginia Kavanaugh Vogel and family of Brattleboro, Vermont, and grandson Trevor Tedder of Oklahoma City.

Michael was the fifth of seven siblings born to Al and Marjorie and is pre-deceased by his sister Theresa Ann Fowler and brothers Alfred William ‘Bill’, Joseph Edward ‘Joe’, Daniel Patrick ‘Dan’, and Robert Dennis. Additionally, he leaves behind a multitude of nieces, nephews, and their children and grandchildren.

He attended grade school at Rosary Elementary and faithfully served as altar boy on Sundays at Our Lady’s Cathedral. Following in his three brother’s footsteps he headed to Shawnee, Oklahoma where he attended Saint Gregory’s Boarding School for Boys for four years of high school and two years of junior college, graduating with an Associate of Science Degree. He briefly attended the University of Oklahoma, self-proclaiming his early departure was due to “spending too much time drinking beer on Campus Corner”. He then served in the Air National Guard and was stationed out of Sheppard Air Force Base outside of San Antonio, Texas during the Vietnam War.

Mike married the love of his life Jennifer in 1976 in Gunnison, Colorado and they enjoyed many adventures together. Mike followed his father into the construction industry, briefly operating his own asphalt company before joining several other companies that took him and his wife around the country. He eventually joined RGDC and then Triad Design Group for the remainder of his career as a construction inspector. He embraced his work, retiring three times because he loved his work so much.

Mike had several passions in life. He was an amazing amateur photographer and primarily captured images of nature. He saw beauty in the mundane details of daily life, often taking detailed shots of among other things, his construction sites. He adored OU Football and took every chance he could get to attend a game. Mike was also was an avid reader and lifelong learner. His biggest passion, however, were his friends and family. He was a quiet, stoic man most of the time but when asked about his family, he would regale you with his extensive remembrances of a rich family lore. He researched genealogy and the family connection to Ireland, arranging a family estate visit to Ireland in 2013. Michael had endless stories about Estes Park, Colorado where he spent his magic childhood summers at the family home, the Stanley House, built in 1905, just prior to the building of the historic Stanley Hotel. Mike told tales of boarding school hijinks with his older brothers who lead him into endless trouble (which we won’t mention here for legal reasons). Finally, he was so very proud of his girls – Jennifer, Teresa, Aubrey, and Virginia, enjoying countless beautiful days surrounded by his ladies. The world will never be the same without him. Though we weren’t ready to see him leave, he knows we will all be ok.

Memorial services will be at 2:00pm on Friday, October 31, 2025 at Matthews Funeral Home Chapel.