T. Michael Carrington Obituary (1945 - 2026)

Thomas Michael Carrington was born on June 22, 1945 in Urbana, Illinois, to Marion Arthur Carrington and Helen Rachel Thomason. He was named Thomas after a family friend, but went by Mike his entire life. He had one brother, Charles Robert, who was 11 years his senior, and was raised near doting extended family members in Champaign, Illinois. As the youngest, Michael grew up going to funerals and decorating graves, which he actually loved to do because he said it was when the whole family would get together. He was raised by good and honorable people, who taught him reverence, a belief in God, hard work, grit, and patriotism. He graduated from Champaign High School, and was a decorated champion in practically every sport he played. Michael attended the University of Wyoming on an athletic scholarship, where he proudly played football for three years. His time as a Wyoming Cowboy was formative, and he has stayed in touch with his football buddies for life. Before graduating from Wyoming, he enlisted and was commissioned first lieutenant in the US Army. He served faithfully for 18 ½ years, retiring with the rank of major. Later, he attended the University of Denver College of Law, earning his law degree and embarking upon a distinguished legal career. While Denver became the place where he developed professionally, it was also where the most significant events of his personal and spiritual life took place. It was in Denver that Mike met his future in-laws, the Hassell family. After seeing Donna Hassell for the first time in their shared apartment lobby, he confided in his roommate and confidently remarked, “I just saw my future wife.” That impression proved true. Grandpa Hassell would later remark, “We came to Denver to find Mike.” From his interaction with the Hassell family, he also was introduced to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Studying the restored gospel, he was deeply influenced by the book A Marvelous Work and a Wonder by LeGrand Richards. His conversion to the Book of Mormon would actually come later while he taught seminary for 4+ years. Although he approached his investigation of the Church with both sincerity and his skills as a lawyer, trying at one point to negotiate with the missionaries for only a 5% tithe, his testimony of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel became the defining characteristic of his life and priorities. Mike and Donna fell in love with the Rocky Mountains, and jointly decided to plant roots in Colorado to start Mike’s legal career and raise a family. He first worked within a small law firm in Denver. When he chose to start his own private practice, many of the firm's clients followed, noting Mike’s unwavering integrity and honest character. He remained active in the profession until the age of seventy-eight, and many of his clients and colleagues became close friends for 50+ years. After 53 ½ years running his law office, he finally retired, with Donna once again serving by his side as his secretary. Retirement, however, was not an end to service. Together, Mike and Donna accepted a call to serve in the Canada Toronto Mission. Their missionary service brought them great joy. They served faithfully among the members of the Perry Sound Branch and were adored by missionaries throughout Ontario and portions of Quebec. They put ~86,000 miles on their car and provided just as many meals for young missionaries. Throughout his life, Mike served faithfully in many capacities within the Church. His callings included bishop, counselor, high councilman, seminary teacher, primary teacher, and missionary. Additionally, for more than twenty-two years, he worked a weekly temple shift. Above all else, his greatest joys came from his family. His wife, Donna; their six kids: Tasha, Kirsten, Ryan, Scott, John, and Collins; his son-in-law Brandon, and his three daughter-in-laws, Patricia, Laura, and Martha; twenty beloved grandchildren and their spouses, and 4 great-grandchildren. He loved being surrounded by his family. Fittingly, Mike peacefully passed away on D-Day, June 6, 2026 and returned to his heavenly home. He’s preceded in death by his entire immediate family, and his beloved grandson Wesley. We honor his memory by trying to live exemplary, faith-filled lives in service to God and others. As he would have said, “in any event, we’ll miss him.”