John “Mike” Michael Mancillas
1949 – 2024
John (Mike) Mancillas passed away on April 22, 2024, after a short yet courageous battle with cancer. Mike was born on June 24, 1949, to John Mancillas and Aurora Mancillas in Woodward, Oklahoma. He was the oldest of four children.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by the love of his life, Jayne Spies-Mancillas, sister Nancy Ditzler (Steve), brother Mark Mancillas (Chris) and brother Max Mancillas (Cindy) and beloved nieces, nephews, and their children.
Mike graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in business and thereafter graduated from the University of Oklahoma College of Law. He loved OU sports, particularly football where he was a longtime season ticket holder. During his legal career, he was appointed by the Governor to be the first Hispanic Judge on the Oklahoma Worker’s Compensation Court.
Following that, he established his own law firm where he worked until his retirement in 2019. While in private practice, he associated himself with multiple attorneys, staff, legal assistants, and clients who became great friends.
A Celebration of Life will take place at 2:00 p.m. on June 8, 2023, at Matthews Funeral Home, 601 S. Kelly, Edmond, Oklahoma. A reception will immediately follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or a charity of your choice.
An amazing, honest, generous man who will be so truly missed by anyone who ever knew him! Always smiling, always helping people, always caring! Michael may you be comforted by your legacy and knowing you left a great one behind!
Nita Wilson
Mike was my Little Brother in Delta Upsilon Fraternity at OU
I am shocked and saddened to find out about his death on this his Birthday.
Though we had long since lost touch with one another, I still remember his birthday. I can tell a million wonderful stories about our college days as not only fraternity brothers but Roommates.
I shall always cherish those memories.
I am saddened to hear of Mike’s passing. We grew up in Alva, and I first met him playing little league baseball during the summers and later on into high school. It seemed as though before games, as well as practice, that Mike and I always warmed up together, almost a ritual. When we exchanged messages earlier this year, I mentioned that pre-game ritual and he remembered having to field my disastrous attempts to throw a hard knuckle ball. What I remember the most about Mike was his genuine smile, his sense of humor, and especially that he was a remarkably well-intentioned good person and that he was my friend.