Michael Teel Criss

Michael Teel Criss, 72, of Clarksburg, MD, passed away Friday, March 4, 2022 at Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown, MD, surrounded by family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Teel Criss, and mother, Hazel Delores (Zierke) Criss.  He is survived by his wife, Marcia (Rankin) Criss; daughter Lena Pettay and husband Bo of Fayetteville, NC; son Robert Teel Criss and wife Cristen of Cumberland, MD; sisters Teela Gunter and husband John, and Robin Shuster and husband David; 5 grandchildren; and 7 nieces and nephews.

Michael was born in Long Beach, California.  He served as a cook in the United States Navy from 1968 to 1972, completing two tours of Vietnam and one of Korea, achieving the rare Golden Shellback status.  He carried his love of food and cooking over into his post-military life, and ended his career as a Correctional Dietary Officer for the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Correction and Rehabilitation, where he taught inmates to cook and supervised them as they prepared meals for the detention center population. 

Mike was a big guy with a big voice, a great sense of humor, and a straightforward attitude.   Those who knew him, knew that he enjoyed a good joke, had a big heart, and was generally a lovable teddy bear. 

He liked to travel and collected Hawaiian shirts from his travels.  He enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, playing with his beloved cats Sammy and Penelope, working on model cars, movies, and classic rock music. 

Family and friends will be received on Friday, March 11, 2022 from Noon-1:00 PM at Wilhelm-Eakin Funeral Home, P.A., Lonaconing. A funeral service will be held at Rocky Gap Veterans Cemetery, Flintstone following with military honors accorded by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 172, Cumberland.

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