DRUNK driving victim remembered

The wife of a man killed on the side of the highway talks exclusively with KOTV. KOTV's Sean Mossman visited her Coweta home and says Melanie Nobles says she has to forgive the man accused of killing

Thursday, May 3rd 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The wife of a man killed on the side of the highway talks exclusively with KOTV. KOTV's Sean Mossman visited her Coweta home and says Melanie Nobles says she has to forgive the man accused of killing her husband Mike in a drunk driving accident. She says it's what her deeply religious husband would want her and their children to do.

Mike Nobles was on the threshold of a dream. He was only three weeks away from a Bible studies degree from Oklahoma Baptist University. Mike wanted his wife and kids to see him accept his diploma. "He was just ecstatic. Especially since he didn't get to cross in high school. He'd broken his leg and didn't get to walk the stage for his high school diploma. This was gonna be a big step for him." But, Mike will never take that step. While going to class Monday night, he ran out of gas on the BA expressway near Sheridan. That's when Tulsa Police say a legally drunk Lawrence Montague ran over Mike as he was walking on the side of the highway. Mike died at the scene. Mike's Pastor said he was shocked when he heard the news. Just a day earlier, after Sunday service, Mike pulled Pastor Shane Hall aside and told him God had spoken to him that morning. "It's an awesome thought to think the day before the Lord had shown him and made him certain again that because of Jesus Christ he knew he had a home in heaven." Mike had been involved in the ministry for all of his adult life. Most of it was spent with church youth. "One of the last things I'd heard Mike say was his concern for other people and for children in particular."

Mike's main concern was for his two young children, two little girls. Too young to understand the hows and whys of their father's death, but not too young to share his enormous faith. "Our 4-year-old, we told her that daddy had gone to heaven. There was no question. She just said OK and she ran into the other room to tell someone else that my daddy's with God." Melanie says if Montague's found guilty of murdering her husband, she'll forgive him. She says she has too, because her husband would have.

Lawrence Montague has been charged with DUI, gun violations and 1st degree murder in the death of Mike Nobles.