Michael Lane Batson

Mickey is survived by his loving wife, Gail, of 60 years; his son, Michael, and his wife, Marti; his grandchildren, Mackenzie and Michael Lane and his daughter, Mandy. He is also survived by his five brothers and sisters, Linda, Diane, Peggy, Donna, Sherry, and Roger; and by numerous nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind many friends who will miss him greatly.

Mickey was preceded in death by his father, Leymon Boyce Batson; his mother, Norma Batson; and his brother, Boyce Batson.

Mickey was born on August 24, 1994, in Goose Creek, Texas. He graduated from Pasadena High School in 1962. After graduating from High School, he began attending the University of Houston, during which time he met and later married the love of his life, Dianne Gail Clewis. They were married on February 6, 1965, and celebrated 60 years of marriage prior to his passing.

Mickey came to know the Lord while he was in High School. He developed a deep and abiding faith during his earthly journey and raised his children to know and love the Lord as he did. Mickey’s faith was very important to him, and he and Gail began their life together as members of Tallowood Baptist Church. Later in life, they joined First Baptist Church and then Second Baptist Church, where Mickey became a deacon. Upon returning to the Houston area after leaving Galveston, Mickey and Gail returned to Tallowood Baptist Church, where they were members until his passing. Mickey was actively involved in each church of which he and Gail were members and made many lifelong friends who will miss him greatly.

Mickey and Gail’s first child, Michael, was born in 1967. After his son’s birth, Mickey started what turned out to be a life-long career in the car business. Mickey began his career working with his brother and for his father at Batson & Sons’ Motors in Angleton, Texas. While working there, Mickey and Gail’s second child, Mandy, was born in 1974. After spending years learning the ins and outs of the car business, and never being one to shy away from a challenge, Mickey bought Fort Bend Toyota in the early 1980’s, and changed the name to Mickey Batson Toyota. Shortly after acquiring the Toyota dealership, Mickey purchased several other dealerships in the surrounding area, including what came to be called Mickey Batson Datsun. After spending years owning and running car dealerships, Mickey had acquired a vast amount of knowledge and experience in the car industry and was offered the challenging opportunity of assisting in the setting up and running of Westside Lexas, Houston, where he would be named General Manager. Mickey held the position of General Manager of Westside Lexus and assisted in turning Westside Lexus into one of the premier car dealerships in Houston until his retirement in the early 2000s. Upon retiring, Mickey and Gail moved to Galveston where Mickey spent years playing golf and enjoying retirement. Not one to sit idle for long however, Mickey soon found his way back to the automobile industry and became a managing partner at Gulf Coast Auto Park in Angleton, Texas, until he and Gail returned to Houston in 2019.

In 2014, Mickey was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Mickey bravely battled the disease for many years until the Lord called him home on December 8, 2025.

Mickey had several great loves during his life: his wife, Gail; his children, Michael and Mandy; and his grandchildren, Mackenzie and Michael Lane. He also loved fast cars, skiing and playing golf. Mickey and Gail were members of Pine Forest Country Club in Houston for many years until they moved to Galveston and joined the Galveston Country Club. Mickey was an avid golfer, and he and Gail spent many years golfing together.

Mickey’s son, Michael, met and married his wife, Marti, in 1998. Mickey’s first grandchild, Mackenzie was born in 2000. His second grandchild, Michael Lane, was born in 2002. Mickey’s love for and devotion to his children, and later his grandchildren, was beyond measure. No task was too great or too small for him, ever.

Mickey was never scared to take on a new opportunity or face a challenge, and he always handled his life with honesty and integrity. Mickey had incredible patience and always made time to help and mentor others. Mickey was kind and generous to everyone he met, and he treated every person he met with respect, from important business associates or the occasional celebrity, to the waiters at restaurants, part-time employees at his dealerships or the young kids who carried his golf bag. Mickey’s legacy will live on forever in the hearts and minds of all of those he met and helped along the way. Mickey made a conscious effort to live a life of meaningful acts of kindness, respect and love towards others.

A celebration of Mickey’s life will be conducted at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, December 18, 2025, at Tallowood Baptist Church, 555 Tallowood Rd, Houston, TX 77024.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Parkinson's Foundation

https://www.parkinson.org

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation

https://www.cff.org