coonhunter

This is Mike Aylesworths wife, Edie. Mike passed away Monday, July 25, 2022. I will not be back on this site. If you would like to reach out to me I can be located at: [email protected]. 

The following is his obituary that was printed Saturday, July 30, 2022 in The Daily Star, Oneonta, NY and will be printed in The Evening Sun, Norwich, NY on Monday, August 1, 2022

Oneonta - Michael (Mike/Buck) R. Aylesworth , 54, passed away, Monday,  July 25, 2022.

He was born December 28, 1967 in Norwich, the son of Bruce “Buck” R. and Lois (Paddock) Aylesworth. 

Mike grew up in Columbus and graduated from New Berlin Central School in 1986.

As a young boy he was driven to succeed. He was a hard worker. He never turned an opportunity down to earn some cash. He would travel as far as Utica on his bicycle for work.  

During high school, he played baseball for the New Berlin Hawks and was an all-star pitcher.  He won numerous awards, local and state.  His team was awarded a New York State baseball championship.  Mike and his friends restored and fixed demolition cars.  Mike was part of his friends’ families. He had many beloved extended family members that always held a very special place in his heart.

Mike had a zest for life and was the maker of mischief, all in the name of fun.  In his younger years, he had a wild streak about him and defied the odds on more than one occasion. He enjoyed having fun and enjoyed when other people had fun also. He loved to laugh, with his slightly unusual sense of humor he could have tears rolling down his face and still want to laugh more. He loved razzing people and if you could take it, he knew that as a sign to keep you in his circle.

Mike had several champion coonhounds.  His first coonhound was Jill but his pride and joy was Jake who won him several trophies & monetary awards. Pearl won him a state championship.  He was often asked and was honored to train other coonhound dogs.  He was a member of UKC and PKC.   He loved the southern hospitality during his participation in national hunts at Autumn Oaks in Kentucky as well as many other hunts state and nationwide.  He possessed many of the southern qualities in his old-fashioned ways. 

Mike had many other interests outside the home. He cast a very wide web that connected him to several bowling leagues and was often asked to substitute. He always showed up and won numerous awards doing so. He enjoyed an occasional tournament as well, always striving to be better than last time he bowled. 

He was a proud member of the South New Berlin Horseshoe Club and an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and was especially passionate about ice fishing. Hunting was a form of serenity for Mike, he liked the peace and quiet of the forest. He wasn't concerned if he came out of the woods empty handed. He enjoyed online horse racing as well.  He was a hard- core race fan. He favored modified race cars and ventured to Port Royal, PA twice a year with his racing buddies. His love of racing started with his father when he was a child.  If there was a track nearby, he went. 

Mike did not like to be the center of attention but he excelled at many things and stood out. Mike had a very unique voice and often said he had a wealth of useless knowledge. His random words of wisdom were correct 99.9% of the time. He was straight forward; you would never wonder how he felt. When Mike said he was going to do something, he did it, period.   Although his deliverance was often dry and cantankerous, if you had the pleasure of his presence you learned to love his idiosyncrasies & eccentricities.   If you held a special place in his heart, you knew it.  He had a very special bond with his 'niece' Emmaleigh Marie Excell. He would give her the world if she asked for it. One of his favorite memories with her was giving her pony back and piggy back rides, no matter her age or his.

Mike's interest at home included: His kindle, his favorite author was William W. Johnstone, he spent many nights and weekends in front of his coffee pot in the kitchen or on the front porch (his happy place) in his easy chair reading his kindle. His library was enormous. He followed the NY Yankees and Denver Broncos. He was part of many online forums.  He always had something recorded to watch at a later time so he could fast forward through the parts he didn't feel were relevant. He was an MMA/UFC fan. He followed AMA Supercross, Motocross, AEW Wrestling, PBA Bowling, Nascar and IndyCar and PBR.  He watched Moonshiners, Gold Rush, Bering Sea Gold, Deadliest Catch, Street Outlaws, Wicked Tuna, Snake City, Swamp People and Outback Opal Hunters faithfully. Because he had so many interests, he always had something to talk about with whomever he was conversing with that day. Sometimes several in a group chat.

Mike was currently employed at Egli Machine in Sidney, working there for the past 25 years. He took great pride in his work. He exercised the mentality of a true machinist. 'Good enough' was never an option and perfection was always required. Mike talked out loud to himself in almost every part of his day. He was also a stickler for punctuality.

His loss has been devastating and felt by a large community of family, work, friends and acquaintances.  He will be truly missed and the stories that can be told will hopefully keep his spirit alive.

He is survived by his wife, Edith “Edie” (Shadel) Aylesworth, Oneonta; his son Russell Aylesworth of Norwich; his stepchildren, Tanner Strignano (Dakota) of Auburn, and Garrison Strignano of Oneonta; his mother, Lois Aylesworth of Columbus; his younger brothers, Kevin Aylesworth (Dan) of Columbus and Brent Aylesworth (Leanna) of Norwich.

Preceded in death by his father, Bruce Aylesworth.

At his request there will be no funeral service, however a celebration of Mike’s life may be held at a later date. 

To share a condolence, story or photo, visit, www.lhpfuneralhome.com, the website of Oneonta’s only family owned funeral home, Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono  at 51 Dietz Street.