Cahill is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son and grandson.

An estimated 500 people showed up to the Saint Monica's Catholic Church in Cameron on Sunday, to pay their respects to 62-year-old Michael Grant Cahill.

Cahill was among the 13 who were killed when a gunman opened fire in Fort Hood at the Soldier Readiness Center on Nov. 5. He was the only civilian to be killed that day.

Although he was working as a civilian, Cahill was no stranger to military service. He spent more than 20 years with the Army National Guard before he retired as a Chief Warrant Officer.

According to a biography in the funeral program, Cahill had worked as a physician's assistant at Fort Hood for the past seven years.

	Cahill was among the 13 who were killed, when a gunman opened fire in Fort Hood.

Even before he started working on Fort Hood, he spent years as a health care professional in rural clinics in Montana and Oregon.

Sgt.1st Class Maria Guerra is in charge of supervising the Soldier Readiness Center where Cahill worked. She said she will always remember him for his bushy beard.

"He was my Santa; he's my big jolly happy Santa," Guerra said.

Guerra said what she will miss most about him is his special ability to connect with soldiers who were often getting ready to deploy.

		WATCH THE VIDEO
	Remembering Michael Cahill News 8's Chie Saito was at the service, and tells us how those closest to Michael Cahill remember him.

"I think he put them at ease," she said. "Especially the soldiers who were going overseas, because most soldiers going through there are kids, and they're scared."

Archbishop for Military Services, Timothy Broglio, presided over the funeral mass. He reminded those in attendance of how suddenly Cahill's life was taken.

"He expected to come home," Broglio said. "Tragedy struck, and the life well lived was truncated."

At the end of the traditional military service, the widow's sister-in-law, Susan Murphy, spoke to the media on behalf of the family.

	Cahill had worked as a physician's assistant at Fort Hood for the past seven years.

"We will miss Michael terribly, but we know he is with God," she said.

While undoubtedly his death leaves a big void in the lives of those he left behind, he will live on in the hearts of the many he touched.

Cahill is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son and grandson.

His internment is scheduled for the spring in Montana.

	Make a Donation
Monetary donations can be made to the chaplaincy on post. Please make checks out to "CTOF" (Chapel's Tithes and Offerings Fund) and write "Nov. 5 Tragedy" on the memo line. Mail to: Chaplains' Fund Office Bldg 44, 761st Tank Battalion Ave. Fort Hood, TX 76544-5000 Gifts in kind for the soldiers and their families can be mailed to: Fort Hoods' Family and Morale, Welfare & Recreation Directorate DFMWR Bldg. 194 at 37th St. Fort Hood, TX 76544 Fisher House Bldg 36015, Fisher Lane Fort Hood, TX 76544 Killeen Red Cross 208 West Ave. A Killeen, Texas 76541 USO Fort Hood Bldg. 1871, 50th St. Fort Hood, TX 76544 Association of the U.S. Army Central Texas-Fort Hood AUSA Chapter P.O. Box 10700 Killeen, TX 76547-0700