Michael Blaine Taloney, 65, took a non-stop flight to Heaven on July 9, 2014. A service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 15 at Memorial Funeral home in Columbus with burial to follow in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mike, a lifelong aviator, was born on December 23, 1948. He was stationed at Columbus Air Force Base when he met his wife Theresa Diane Taloney in 1969, and they married one year later at First Baptist Church. Together they operated Taloney Air Service at the Columbus-Lowndes Airport and trained nearly one thousand pilots through a collaborative effort with CAFB during their 30 years in business. Mike served as president of the Mississippi Airport Association, Certified Flight Instructors Association and Columbus Aero Club. He also taught aviation courses at the Mississippi University for Women. Perhaps, though, his proudest accomplishment was sharing his love of flying with both of his sons whom he taught to fly before they were old enough to drive a car. Tony and Justin Taloney followed in their fathers footsteps and are both professional pilots. Mike lent his cockpit expertise as a volunteer with Shriners and Angel Flight. He also spearheaded fundraising efforts for the American Cancer Society and SafeHaven. Mikes love of aviation was rivaled only by his love of music. As the drummer in a country rock band, Mike and his Rowdy bandmates traveled north Mississippi sharing their music with anyone who would listen. Mike also enjoyed Friday nights at the Columbus drag strip and Saturday afternoons on the Tombigbee River. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1976, Mike retired from flying 19 years later with more than 25,000 flight hours. His heroic battle with the disease inspired his family to organize Walk MS in the Golden Triangle raising more than $150,000 for research and patient support over the past eight years. As the bible teaches, Mike has received a new body and now abides in a place far more wonderful than our earthly minds can even imagine. Mike is survived by his wife of 44 years, Diane; his sons, Michael A. Taloney (Gennifer) of Fairhope, Ala. and Justin Taloney (Jessica) of Mobile, Ala.; four grandchildren, Chandler, Baron, Julia and Bryant; and his brother Derell (Linda) of Lees Summit, Missouri. Contributions can be made to the Mike Taloney Memorial Fund, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, 813 Shades Creek Parkway Suite 100B, Birmingham, Alabama 35209 and First Baptist Church, PO Box 829, Columbus, MS 39703. IF YOU COULD SEE ME NOW
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