Michael Fredrick Gauntt, 68, passed away peacefully on Dec. 18, 2017 in Memphis, Tenn., in the care of his partner and loving friend Rhonda Ann Tuchscherer.

Born to Evelyn Mamie Bailey Gauntt and Fredrick Gauntt on Oct. 25, 1949 in Long Beach, Cali., Michael was a master of his many interests and a true renaissance man.

He was an old-school hippie, not the kind that believed what’s yours is mine, but what’s mine is mine because he built, grew, or created it without the help of others. So get off my cloud punk.

Michael met the love of his life, Martha Henderson from Potts Camp, Miss., in Chico, Cali.,  while they were both pursuing degrees in recreational therapy at Chico State.

They traveled extensively all over North and Central America in a converted school bus looking for the right place to settle down, which ultimately ended up being North Mississippi. They would spend the next 40 years together loving, growing and creating until Martha’s untimely passing.

Michael’s craftsmanship, carpentry prowess and attention to detail can be seen all over Oxford, as he worked on projects for friends and locals. He and Martha were also expert organic gardeners and growers. They respected the earth and taught and influenced others to as well. In Michael’s own words stated in a recent text, “I have been so very fortunate to have been born into a time and place that allowed me the confidence to pursue dreams. I am, as I think of it, one of the rare individuals who caught sight of and pursued dreams unabatedly. “

Michael leaves behind his partner and loving friend Rhonda Ann Tuchscherer, sister Sharon Dearmond, nephews Vaughn Dearmond, Victor Dearmond, and the late Vincent Dearmond, brother in law Dennis Henderson, nieces Ashley Morgan Henderson and Arielle J. Marie Henderson and a host of friends he affectionately called his “family.”