Michael "Mick" Thames

In Loving Memory Of

Michael “Mick” Thames

a.k.a. Swiftwater

1943 - 2025

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Mick Thames on November 5, 2025, in Tucson, Arizona at the age of 82.

Born in Bogalusa, Louisiana on July 28, 1943, to Pete & Althea Thames. The family moved to Bisbee, Arizona when Mick was 6 years old. Mick attended Bisbee High School where he met the love of his life, Diane Hack. They married in 1963 and had 2 children. Mick served in the Navy for 4 years as a machinist. Mick was a proud American who honored America, our flag, and God throughout his life.

After the Navy Mick went on to pursue jobs working with machinery and automobiles, but his dream was aviation and learning to fly. Mick learned to fly and obtained his pilot’s license and later his airframe & powerplant license and started his own business, Tyconic, aircraft rental, flight instruction, charters, and aircraft maintenance.

Mick’s love of flying was his greatest passion, but Mick pursued many other hobbies throughout his life. He loved racing and early in life he built his own race car and raced at Corona Speedway (now Tucson Speedway). He was an avid NASCAR fan and would rarely miss a race. Mick also loved Cowboy Action Shooting and was a SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) member with the alias, Swiftwater. For several years Mick ran cowboy shooting matches at the Three Points Shooting Range in Tucson. Mick loved the old west and the old western movies that he grew up watching as a kid.

Mick had a wonderful sense of humor that showed through, even in the very end. He had a laugh that made others laugh, and which we can all still hear even though he is gone. We raise our glass to you Mick, to a life well lived just how you wanted it! We all love you! This is not goodbye; it is “we will see you later!”

Mick is survived by his wife Diane Thames, daughter Brenda West (son in-law Alan Kowalski), son Glenn Thames (daughter in-law Kelly Thames), and grandchildren Brandon Thames, Devon Thames, and Evany Thames. Mick also leaves behind his sister Donna Daniels and his brother Randy Thames. Mick is preceded in death by his parents Pete and Althea Thames, his brother Rodney “Rocky” Thames, and his little sister Vicky Gail Thames.

Mick’s wishes were not to have a formal memorial service, so please remember Mick in your own way. He will be dearly missed but forever remembered in all our hearts!

High Flight

by John Gillespie Magee, Jr.

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth

And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;

Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth

Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things

You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung

High in the sunlit silence. Hov’ring there,

I’ve chased the shouting wind along, and flung

My eager craft through footless halls of air…

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue

I’ve topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace

Where never a lark, or ever eagle flew —

And, while with silent, lifting mind I’ve trod

The high untrespassed sanctity of space,

Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.