By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

If Rev. Mike Densmore is “chilling,” he is probably in his recliner watching Gunsmoke, Bonanza or an old Hallmark movie…you know, where right overcomes wrong.

Densmore says he loves the westerns in particular because he can catnap and never miss a thing. We agreed it sometimes takes Festus a while to get things done.

A native of the Alexander City area, he is a graduate of Benjamin Russell, Auburn and Emory. As a child, he recalls playing in the creek, Lake Martin when their were no houses and visiting friends and neighbors with no prior warning.

“We’d just drop by” he said.

As a part-time pastor for many years, Densmore has traveled extensively, but his 30-year job with Goodyear as a world wide strategic planner took him to his favorite spot in the world, Bled Slovenia. His second favorite place visited was Port Elizabeth, South Africa in the Indian Ocean.

“Fresh markets on the beach, monkeys on the veranda and beautiful scenery, its paradise,” Densmore said. Densmore is dad to sons Jay Kelly an attorney in Fresno, Calif., and Robert Smith, a commercial accounts manager, who lives in Gadsden.

Mike and wife, Patsy, who met and married in 1980 while both were youth pastors in the Rainbow City-Glenco area, are grandparents of two 3-year-old girls. Harper lives in Fresno while granddaughter Kaedy resides in Gadsden.

“In the Methodist church the Bishop says go, and you do,” said Densmore.

Since June 2012, Densmore has been the executive pastor at First United Methodist. He is expected to preach, teach and minister to others.

United Methodist offers three services: Two are at 8:30 a.m. Densmore does a very traditional service with communion every Sunday in the Sanctuary.

Rev. Brian Erickson, senior pastor, does the 8:30 a.m. contemporary at Restore and the 11 a.m. traditional service. Miriam Smith, who is the associate pastor, sometimes fills in. Between all three services, about 700 people attend.

“My goal is to help create a Christian fellowship, attractive to others that is independent of clergy changes,” Densmore said.