Robert Clarkson Lunsford was born in 1945 to Cecil Gilbert Lunsford, Sr. and Alice Laura Lunsford in Louisville, KY. Nicknamed “Mickey” after his late uncle, Mike, his childhood was spent pretending to be Captain Marvel in his St. Matthew's home and running around with his cousins on his aunt's farm in Indiana. He picked up the music gene from his father and graduated from Waggener High School in 1963 as a drummer in the marching band. Mickey attended Eastern Kentucky College, the University of Louisville, and Sullivan Junior College, obtaining an Associate's Degree in Business. During this time, Mick was a drummer with the Louisville band, The Monarchs, working nightly gigs and churning out 45’s. One summer he even spent touring with Dick Clark, Glenn Campbell, and the Beach Boys. He was drafted and served in the US Navy aboard the USS Forrestal CVA-59 as a Storekeeper from 1966-1968 and was in the Naval Reserves until 1972. After a very brief exploration of independence in California working for Standard Oil, he returned home to Louisville. While participating in a bowling league, his team needed a substitute for one of their members in the summer of 1977. That’s where Mick met Jacqueline Sattich and her 5 year old son, Chip. The couple married on October 6, 1979 at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Louisville, KY with Chip as the ring bearer. The new family of three spent their time attending University of Louisville sporting events with friends and accompanying Mick on his band gigs. Mick was a drummer with The Epics and a regular musician on the Belle of Louisville Riverboat, playing in the band alongside his brother, Sonny, and his sister-in-law, Shar. Even the birth of their daughter, Lauren, in 1983 didn’t slow the family down. Lauren and Chip became official groupies and Louisville Cardinal ambassadors. Mickey was a rabid University of Louisville fan and enjoyed traveling to watch the Cardinal Men's Basketball Team. The move to Jacksonville, FL from Louisville, KY in 1988 never dampened his fervor and with the aid of the internet, Mick was able to keep every family member, friend, co-worker and/or complete stranger apprised on the national ranking of EVERY sport played on the U of L campus at any moment, on any given day. Mick and Jackie even helped start the Jacksonville chapter of the U of L Alumni Association. When Mick wasn't following the Louisville Cardinals, he was still drumming. Mick was an active member in the Church of Our Saviour Contemporary Band. He organized the recording and sales of multiple praise and worship CD’s, with the profits benefiting Our Saviour’s Youth Group. But, his favorite project was helping to organize and play for a 1950’s diner-style fundraiser at the church. In the summer of 1997, Mick and his family moved out to a small acreage of land complete with horses, dogs, cats; and the occasional visit from the neighbors' goats, pigs, and horses (the stray animals were always returned to their owners, although Lauren and her friends tried very hard to keep the pygmy goat that wandered through). When he was not busy chaperoning a church youth group trip, being a gracious stable hand during his daughter's horse show circuits, or his many Disney World trips with his grandkids; he enjoyed feeding the horses, watching the hawks and deer, building bonfires, and catching the crafty racoons that attempted to steal the horse and cat food (he may have been relocating them near his daughter's rival high school down the road...). Mick is survived by his wife, Jackie; his daughter, Lauren; his son-in-law, James; his grandchildren: Ruby and Sawyer Noland; and Lily and Kieran Evans; his mother-in-law, Ruth; as well as many nieces and nephews. Mickey has been reunited in death with his mother, Alice; his father, Cecil; his brother, Sonny; his sister-in-law, Shar; and his son, Chip. Mickey’s Celebration of Life will be held at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour at 12236 Mandarin Road, Jacksonville, FL 32223, on Saturday, July 2nd at 10 am. An on-site reception will immediately follow in the Church Hall. In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to Community Hospice of Northeast Florida at https://communityhospice.com or The American Lung Association at https://action.lung.org. Please feel free to join the family for the Jacksonville Lung Force 5k on October 1, 2022. Together we can defeat lung cancer. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Lunsford family.

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