WELLS – It is with great sadness we share the passing of Michael F. Guyer on Feb. 11, 2023, in Wells.

Mike graduated with BUD/S Class 134 in Coronado and served with SEAL Teams FOUR and TEN, SDV Team TWO, NSWU EIGHT, Naval Special Warfare Development Group, and as Commanding Officer SEAL Team TWO.

Commander (SEAL) Michael F. Guyer, United States Navy (retired), of Wells, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 11, 2023. Mike fought his final battle with cancer like he lived his life, with a quiet stoic resolve that was truly inspirational.

Observing his faith, hard work, integrity, friendship, and humility taught his vast collection of family and friends how to live. Observing his faith, courage, humor, grit, and grace as he battled cancer taught his family and friends how to face adversity, taught them how to die.

Born on Oct. 6, 1959, in Portsmouth, Va. to Margaret and Marvin Guyer. He was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio and Raleigh, N.C. He was a graduate of Sanderson High School in Raleigh, N.C., Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., and the Naval War College, Newport, R.I.

His career in the U.S. Navy spanned 29 years of exceptionally distinguished service from Seaman Recruit, to Pharmacist’s Mate, to Commanding Officer of SEAL Team TWO. Upon graduation from SEAL training Mike excelled at every aspect of leading SEALs from his early days in a SEAL Delivery Vehicle platoon, to his deployments to Latin America with SEAL Team FOUR, to his time as the Operations Officer at Unit EIGHT in Panama and the Plank Owner Executive Officer standing up SEAL Team TEN he earned a reputation as an outstanding operator, decisive leader, and team player.

His many years of service at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group are where Mike really made his mark on the community. During his time leading an element and squadron he planned and led a historically successful mission pre-9/11, when missions were scarce. Post 9/11 he served as Operations Officer in the early days of Afghanistan, establishing the foundation of success for hundreds of follow-on deployments.

Upon retirement and as a civilian Mike continued to play an important role in supporting Naval Special Warfare for over a decade by writing the history and compiling the lessons learned at Naval Special Warfare Development Group and periodically coordinating the pre-deployment certification exercises for both the East and West Coast SEAL Teams. The operators trusted and confided in Mike which enabled him to accurately document their accomplishments and hard-earned lessons post-mission and their leaders trusted in Mike to help them prepare deploying SEAL Teams for the challenges of combat and deployment. Bottomline, Mike devoted his entire adult life to leading or assisting the community he loved.

Mike was also an expert gardener and military history afficionado who could discuss the merits of his favorite species of Japanese Maples as easily as he could discuss the eccentricities of his favorite, or least favorite, Civil War general. He loved anything with an engine, which included a long list of motorcycles, cars, trucks, and boats. He always had a “project.” He also loved to fish, drink a nice glass of wine, cook on the grill, and explore new places.

His deep faith in Jesus Christ and his family gave Mike the most joy. He loved to travel to California to visit his daughter, Carey, his son, Andrew and his three grandsons, Tristan, Trevor, and Declan. He treasured his life in Maine with his best friend and life partner, Eileen, stepdaughters Meaghan and Emily, son-in-law, Sean, and grandson, Callahan. His travels to North Carolina encompassed many delightful times with his sister, Debbie and her husband Tim, his brother, Joe and his mother, Margaret, his nephews, nieces, and all their children.

Mike’s wisdom, bluntness, humility, wit, and acute powers of observation ensured he had an outsized impact on everyone he met and interacted with. Whether it was helping to coach the Wells High School Football Team or instructing his grandson how to ride a motorcycle, you were a better person after being counseled by Mike.

Mike is survived by his beloved partner of 19 years, Eileen Sheehy; son, Senior Chief Andrew Guyer and his partner Cindy Dela Cruz, daughter, Carey Guyer, stepdaughters Meaghan Lewia and Emily Roche, son-in-law, Sean Roche; grandchildren, Declan Guyer, Trevor Guyer, Tristan Guyer, and Callahan Roche; mother, Margaret Guyer; sister, Debbie Shinbara and her husband Timothy, brother, Joe Guyer; mother-in-law, Marianne Sheehy; sisters-in-law Kerry Sheehy, and Janet Sheehy. Mike has many nephews, nieces, outstanding teammates, and friends, all of whom he relished.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the JEB-Little Creek SEAL Heritage Center** on Friday, May 12.  Details will be published at a later date.

A fundraiser for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital has been established in Mike’s honor. If you would like to provide a donation on his behalf, please follow the link below.

https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/DIY/DIY?px=7869623&pg=personal&fr_id=134326