BRISTOL -- Baylas C. "Mike" Bright, 84, of Bristol, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Nov. 10, 2009) in his home.

He was born Feb. 22, 1925, in Muncie to Vergie Bright. He married Jewel P. Nichols on Nov. 24, 1951, in Jolietville. She died Feb. 12, 1987.

Mr. Bright is survived by two daughters, Bonnie (Clyde) Barrett of LaGrange and Bobbi Morris of Beverly Hills, Fla.; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and his companion Arlene "Shorty" Hutton of Elkhart.

Following his retirement from Adams & Westlake as a locksmith, Mr. Bright worked for Lux Co. as a driver. For the past 15 years, he worked at Boardwalk Studios, Bristol.

He was an avid fisherman and a pilot who built his own airplanes and ultra-lites. He was a member of Air Aviation and flew out of Midway Airport in Goshen. Mr. Bright was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy on the USS Santa Fe.

Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Stemm-Lawson-Peterson Funeral Home, 1531 Cobblestone Blvd., Elkhart, where funeral services will be Monday at 1:30 p.m. The Rev. Lloyd Montgomery will officiate. Military graveside services will be rendered by the U.S. Navy Honor Guard and DAV Chapter 19 at Oakridge Cemetery, Bristol. A dinner for family and friends will immediately follow at the American Legion, Bristol.

Memorials may be given to the Center for Hospice & Palliative Care or the Humane Society of Elkhart County. Visit www.stemmlawsonpeterson.com to sign an online guestbook.