Roll Call Tribute

Franz Michael "Mike" Ley, Maj. USAF (Ret) 

August 7, 1939 - January 17, 2025 

Franz M. “Mike” Ley USAF (Ret) and DAF GS-14 retired, son of American pioneers and fifth generation Texan, passed away on Friday, January 17, 2025. His family will receive guests for visitation at 10:00 AM on Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Concordia Lutheran Church, followed by the funeral service at 11:00 AM. He will be laid to rest at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery following the service at 1:15 PM.

The dyslexic son of Joseph August Ley and Mary Ella McVicker of Houston, Texas, Mike struggled in the classroom. However, he graduated from Texas A & M University in the class of 1961 with a BA and St. Mary’s University in 1981 with a MA, where he was a member of the Phi Alpha Theta honor society. He also graduated from Squadron Officer’s School, Survival School, and Air Command and Staff College.

Mike completed Officer’s Training School and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 8, 1962. Four days earlier, he married a stunningly beautiful, all-American French girl with soft blue eyes – Margaret Evonne “Molly” Landeche, the daughter of Alphonse Landeche and Lona Derouen of Bellaire, Texas. The military wedding concluded with a walk under crossed sabers.

Assignments sent Mike to North Carolina, Texas, Okinawa, Alabama, Germany, Greece, Maryland, and the Philippines. A Signals Intelligence Officer, he served in a variety of roles, including Operations Officer and Commander. As a civilian, he was an intelligence analyst, operations analyst, and Air Force Electronic Warfare Technical Director. His combined service spanned over 37 years: twenty years military and 17 years 7 months civilian. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal with 1 oak leaf cluster, and the Air Force Commendation Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters.

In Texas, Germany, and Maryland, he coached Little League baseball for two years, Pop Warner football for five years, and soccer for two years. His 1977 Fort Meade Cougar 100-pound football team were Maryland state and Mid-Atlantic champions.

Mike was a long-time member and elder at Concordia Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. He was a lifetime gardener and an avid golfer who played in nine National Retired golf tournaments in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

He is survived by his wife, Molly, and five children who were all confirmed in the Christian faith: Joseph Michael Ley, Melody Lynn Hailey, Malena Ann Weil, Mindy Sue Threatt, and Melissa Christine Brown. He has numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

At 16, he was robbed by an escaped convict from California holding a .45 revolver. At 17, he built a 1949 Chevrolet into the coolest hot rod at Bellaire High. At 19, he was the sparring partner for a Houston area 265 pound Golden Gloves heavyweight boxer. At 20, Pepperdine University offered him a football scholarship, and later, he was offered an academic scholarship for his master’s degree. At 42, he was offered a two-year active-duty extension ending in promotion to Lt. Colonel. In retirement, he played golf and wrote four fiction manuscripts.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of the staff of Holt & Holt Funeral Home of Boerne. To share words of comfort with the family, please visit www.holtfh.com.