Welcome to Don's photo album

• Alba and Don in Colombia (1997 - 1999)
• Don and family
• John Davidson's kids
• Tribute to Mike Durkee (1948-1999)

Michael Harvey Durkee (1948 - 1999)

Michael Durkee died on October 21 at Dekalb Medical Center. The cause was a massive stroke. He was 51. A resident of Lithonia, Mr. Durkee was the owner and founder of Advanced Products, Inc., a prominent technology manufacturer firm based in Decatur. He founded the firm in 1991 to specialize in chemical coatings for industrial use in the manufacture of certain computer and telecommunication parts. The firm products are sold internationally as well as in the well known domestic technology centers such as Silicon Valley, Boston, Minneapolis and Long Island. In fact, Durkee and his wife were leaving in 10 days for an important trade show in Germany. The firm's distinctive competence was the ability to accept orders to complex products with unusually high tolerances. Growing up in Covina, California, Mr. Durkee was an Eagle Scout and a graduate of the Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, where he also enjoyed an outstanding athletic career. He attended Pasadena City College and San Diego State University. Later he spent a year living on the Hopi Reservation in New Mexico and understudied the Hopi Nation's master silversmith who was then in his 80's. Durkee took that knowledge and began making collector quality jewelry using silver, gold, and turquoise extensively. He was known for his daring originality which blended classic design concepts with contemporary interpretations. His work was featured in the most prestigious galleries of Sedona, Cottonwood, Scottsdale and elsewhere and was the subject of numerous magazine and newspaper articles. It was this knowledge of metallurgical and welding techniques which enable Mr. Durkee, years later, to found Advanced Products Inc., and to introduce products which had a life span many times competitor products. Mr. Durkee's mother, Wanda Rosenberry Durkee was a concert pianist and a featured soloist with the NBC Orchestra under the direction of Arturo Toscanini. His paternal grandfather was the first managing editor of the Long Beach Press Telegram. A 10 year resident of Atlanta, he is survived by his wife of three weeks, Sonia, and a daughter, Rosa Katherine of LaGrande, Oregon, from his first marriage and a brother, Larry Keating of Lake Oswego, Oregon. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 30, 12 noon. at Wages & Sons Stone Mountain Chapel. The remains are to be cremated. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to make a donation to Life-Link,the organ donor program organization. Wages & Sons Stone Mountain. 770-469-9811.

"For life and death are one, even as the
river and the sea are one.
In the depth of your hopes and desires
lies your silent knowledge of the beyond"
- Gibran, On Death