Michael Grant Cahill was a victim of the attack at Ft. Hood Army Post Nov. 5, 2009. He was born July 16, 1947, in Spokane, Wash., the third child of Richard and Edith Cahill. Richard “Dick” Cahill was a teamster and drove for United Paving. Edith (Brown) worked in retail when she wasn’t a homemaker. He was preceded in death by both parents, his sister Patricia Cahill Kraut and his nephew Richard Kraut. He is survived by his wife, Joleen (Murphy); his daughter, Keely Vanacker (Lee) of Kerrville, Texas; son James Cahill of Levelland, Texas; daughter Kerry Cahill of Chicago; grandson Brody Vanacker; sister Marilyn Cahill Attebery of Spokane Valley, Wash.; sister Rebecca Cahill of Lincoln City, Ore.; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He grew up in Spokane, Wash., and, in 1965, graduated from Rogers High School, where he was a member of the cross country team.

He joined the 161st Unit National Guard around 1966 and was trained as an infantryman. Mike attended Spokane Community College and Eastern Washington University, earning a B.A. degree in psychology in 1973. He also attended Carroll College and Northern Montana College in Montana. He met his wife Joleen (Murphy), a Gonzaga University student, in 1969. They were married in Spokane on Sept. 24, 1972, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. They spent their honeymoon backpacking around Europe.

During their early married years, they resided in Montana: Great Falls, Havre, Boulder and Wolf Creek. He was an EMT, working at Columbus Hospital and the Boulder State School. Mike then became a Physician Assistant through the Army National Guard at Brooke Army Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas. He graduated in 1985 with a degree from the University of Oklahoma and Commissioned a Warrant Officer CW2.

He then moved the family back home to Montana and practiced at a V.A. Clinic in Billings. The family then moved to Oregon, where he practiced at the V.A. Hospital in Portland and a small rural clinic in Bly. He was the last 24/7 health care professional to work at the remote Bly clinic.

In 1992, the family moved to Post, Texas, where he continued family practice at a small health care clinic. He retired from the Army National Guard after 23 years of service with the following units: Spokane; Havre, Helena and Bozeman, Mont.; Portland and Medford, Ore.; and Lubbock, Texas.

At that time, Mike was presented with a unique opportunity to work for Hughes Corporation at a remote missile site in Russia, as a medical care provider and an inspector. After which, the family moved to Cameron, Texas, in 1997, where Mike continued his life’s work — practicing family and rural health care with Dr. Sydney Richardson. His career brought him to the V.A. Hospital in Temple, Texas, and the last seven years at Ft. Hood’s health care clinics and the Soldier Readiness Center.

Mike was involved with the Rural Health Initiative in Texas and the Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, where he also served on the board as secretary and was an adjunct professor for Baylor University teaching the next generation of Physician Assistants. He also served on a variety of committees, MHMR Boards and health organizations.

Mike was a voracious reader of history, biographies, science fiction (especially Ursula LeGuin), medicine and current events, often reading two or three books at one time. He had many hobbies, including photography, collecting antiques, stamps, coins, researching genealogy and participating in the local community theater. He loved old movies, especially Dr. Zhivago.

 Mike made it his mission to stay current on world events and politics and could talk for hours with anyone about virtually any topic. He had a love for travel that he passed on to his entire family. Which is why Mike was so proud of his children for being able to study abroad and fulfill their educational and personal dreams. He loved his wife dearly and could not have imagined life without her. He was deeply passionate about his work and having the honor of caring for patients and the soldiers at Ft. Hood.

There will be a Rosary at St. Monica’s Catholic Church in Cameron, Texas at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. The funeral will take place at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Sunday, Nov. 15, at 2 p.m. Interment will take place in the spring of next year in Montana.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Soldier’s Angels, TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors), National Association of Free Clinics or Doctors Without Borders. There is an account set up at Classic Bank in Cameron, Texas for those wishing to support the Cahill Family.