Michael Lee Russell, 69, of Lawson passed away on Aug. 14, 2023, at St. Luke’s Hospital on the Plaza from a stroke. He was born on May 11, 1954, in Maryville to John and Ruth Russell of Skidmore. Mike lived in Skidmore until moving to Hamilton while in grade school. He grew up farming with his dad, putting up hay and raising cattle, which is where his love of farming started. After high school, he went to the University of Missouri, where he then transferred to the University of Missouri- Kansas City and graduated in 1978 with a doctor of pharmacy degree. He met the love of his life, Mary Michael, in grade school, but didn’t know love until high school, when they became high school sweethearts. Mike and Mary always shared “AML … AML” (“All My Love, All My Life”). Mike and Mary were married on May 21, 1976. He began working at Jack Monroe Pharmacy in Braymer. Mike and Mary took ownership in 1990. Mike began working at the Excelsior location of Monroe’s in 1981. He loved his work as…