MICHAEL OIL & PROPANE

“We’re a family business,” says Gail Bailey, President of Michael Oil. She’s not kidding, either. With over 75 years of service to the Big Rapids area, they know their business.

 

The Michael family came to Big Rapids in 1948. Stan and Eunice Michael, Gail’s grandparents, started their family business with a Sunoco gas station. Stan also delivered fuel oil and gasoline out of his station wagon. As the business grew, fuel delivery trucks were purchased to handle the increasing demand for delivery service. In the mid-70s, Harry Michael, Stan and Eunice’s son took over. He expanded the operation in several areas to meet customer needs. In the late 80s, Michael Oil and Propane closed their gas stations to facilitate a major expansion into propane service.

 

The gas stations are now gone, and Gail Bailey, granddaughter of Stan and Eunice, is at the helm. Michael Oil concentrates their business on propane, heating fuel, diesel fuel, gasoline, kerosene, and lubricants. Their clientele is extremely varied; from the home-owner, to farms, industrial and commercial business, to even governmental units. Michael Oil also has a service department for the sales and service of fuel-using equipment, including whole-home generators.

 

“We enjoy helping people,” says Bailey. “We provide the service and deliverable fuels for businesses and homes that don’t have access to natural gas, and some that do.”

 

Michael Oil and Propane serves West-Central Michigan. The fuels they sell are delivered to their storage facility a mile north of Roben-Hood Airport, where Michael Oil can use their many trucks to deliver their products to those that need it.