Doyle Michael "Mike" Summers, age 80, died Saturday, March 6, 2021 at Arkansas Heart Hospital in Little Rock. He was born on January 13 ^th , 1941 to Doyle Burge and Agnes Marie Summers née Finley in Russellville, Arkansas. He was a graduate of Dardanelle High School. He attended Hendrix College and graduated from Arkansas Tech University with a degree in accounting, where he also taught as an adjunct professor.  He proudly served his country in the United States Navy where he completed the NBC Warfare Defense Course, NAS Leadership School Course, and received the National Defense Service Medal. During his time in the service while in Dardanelle on a short leave, he began dating his wife of almost 52 years, Gerry. They married shortly before he shipped out to begin his final assignment at Midway Island.

Mike was a great example of small business entrepreneurship. He was raised in the family business, Summers Chevrolet in Dardanelle. There he learned about cars, hard work, people, and the art of negotiation-the latter at which he especially enjoyed. After his father, Doyle, retired, Mike worked at Phil Wright Chevrolet while he studied for his CPA certification. Mike and Gerry moved their family to Central Arkansas when Mike joined a firm in Little Rock. It only took a few years for them to decide that they belonged closer to home. Once back in Russellville it was not long until he started his own business in the family room with a card table, Pink Pearl eraser, his favorite mechanical pencil, a ten-key calculator, and determination. He turned clients into friends and practiced until the time of his death.

He loved his family and friends, shooting skeet, duck hunting, gun collecting, and baseball, especially Arkansas Razorback Baseball. Mike and Gerry were season ticket holders, loyal fans, and enjoyed the good food and friendship with their tailgate crew.  A frequent visitor to Fayetteville for baseball games and for he and Gerry to visit their daughter, Leslie and son, John. He adored being "Poppy" to his four grandchildren. Thanks to his oldest grandson, Harrison Michael, he probably knew every line to The Sandlot by heart. He constantly laughed at Annabelle Finley and reminded Leslie about paying for your raising. He was always excited to talk about ties, cufflinks, and the like with Jack Benton. His biggest laughs came from Walker Buck who absolutely inherited Mike's dry wit and honest commentary on almost any situation.

Mike was a member of the American Society of CPA's, The Arkansas Society of CPA's, and the River Valley Gun Club. He attended First United Methodist Church of Russellville where he served on the Church Finance committee and was a proud member of Jerry Burns' Sunday School Class.

He was preceded in death by his father, Doyle Burge Summers, his mother, Agnes Finley Summers, his father-in-law, John Thomas Birkhead, and his mother-in-law, Helen Barnett Birkhead.

He is survived by his wife of almost 52 years, Gerry Helen Summers née Birkhead of Russellville; his two children, Leslie Summers and John Michael Summers both of Fayetteville. He was "Poppy" to his four grandchildren- Harrison Michael, Annabelle Finley, Jack Benton, and Walker Buck all of Fayetteville. A sister and brother-in-law, Virginia Summers and Truman Pew of Russellville; a brother-in law and sister-in-law, Gordon and Dianna Miller of Dardanelle; a niece Michele Bechold (Tim Conklin) of Fayetteville; two nephews Thomas Miller and James Miller (Tiffany) all of Dardanelle; a beloved great niece and nephew, Maeleigh Rein Miller and Chap Lewis Miller of Dardanelle.

Services will be held Tuesday, March 16 ^th , 2021 at 2:00pm, at Cornwell Funeral Home Chapel in Dardanelle, Arkansas with Lamont "Brinson" Cornwell and Dr. Mike Johnston officiating.  Burial with military honors will immediately follow at Brearley Cemetery.

Pall Bearers: Blake Tarpley, Russ Wright Chuck Davis, Scott Steuber, Brian Bewley, Marc Holmes, Bryan Fisher, Joey Baker, and Jimmy Armstrong.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 304 South Commerce Avenue, Russellville, AR, 72801; First Baptist Church of Dardanelle, 118 S 2 ^nd Street, Dardanelle, AR 72834; or to continue the upkeep and improvements to Rainey Field/John Newton's Field of Dreams First Security Bank Russellville, Attn: Stacey Roe, 209 West Main Street, Russellville, Arkansas.

Arrangements by Cornwell Funeral Home and River Valley Cremations in Dardanelle. Online Guest Book and Condolences at www.cornwellfuneralhomes.com