LATE Warwick stalwart Mick Rawlings was many things to many people.

A mechanic by trade, Mick combined his penchant for motors with his passion for horse racing; a passion that burned within until his passing on Monday, January 25, 2016.

Born on June 30, 1934, to parents Fred and Annie, Mick bravely battled cancer for nigh on 12 months after being diagnosed terminal in March 2015, and he passed away peacefully at the at the Warwick Hospital on Monday, January 25, with beloved partner of almost 22 beautiful years Chris Sawyer and son Greg by his side.

After commencing his mechanic's apprenticeship at Eagers at Newstead in Brisbane, Mick moved back Warwick to start his career at Shelley Motors, turned his hand to a stint of fencing in Tara, before he shifted to Wilorina Station near Bollon where he was station manager.

He then moved to Dalby where he was employed by Hastings Deerings before winding his career up at Pat Windel's in his beloved Warwick.

A father to five sons - Kevin, Paul, Greg, Noel and Glen - Mick had four siblings; Eileen, Gary, Margaret and Brian.

His loving and gentle nature saw Chris' children, Richie and Candy, warm to him like a second dad and in his final years, Mick spent many wonderful times laughing and enjoying life with his and his extended family.

True to his determination and in pursuit of his great love of horse racing, Mick defied his illness to spend one final day at the races at Warwick's legendary Boxing Day race meeting, where he relished a chance to mingle with Brian and Ethel Bunch, Ray Bunch, and Geoff Willett to swap stories and remember their lifetime of memories in horse racing.

Like his late father Fred, Mick trained many good racehorses down the years but he always harboured a special spot for his handy gallopers Dear Darling, Banshee Jack and Easter Dawn, the latter who sent bookmakers packing when she saluted the judge at Esk racecourse on September 25, 1998, paying a whopping $117 the win.

Mick's funeral was held St Mary's Catholic Church, Warwick, and he will be buried at Maryvale Cemetery on Monday before friends and family celebrate his life in a wake in his memory at Southern Cross Bowls Club.

Mick is survived by his partner Chris, five sons, 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

- Contributed by the family