Eulogy for Michael

Michael was born in Orange, California July 22, 1946, with his twin Terry.

He grew up in the Air Force living in California, Texas, and New England. He spent the mid '50s in Vacaville, California. Summers spent playing in fruit trees and exploring the rolling hills behind a large ranch house.

In 1957 the family moved to Japan for four years. Time spent bicycling through farm villages, picnics at shrines, and beating drums at festivals.

In 1961, the family moved back to the States. First to Bellevue and then to one of the last of the old farm houses in Medina. Time spent clearing blackberries and leveling an old barn.

He graduated from high school in 1965. He married Alene. He joined the Coast Guard.

In the early 70s he started working display at Nordstroms and the Bon. The rest of his life was spent working and creating with his hands. Whether it was display, stained glass, carpentry, or boat building, he strived for perfection and beauty in whatever he made.

He met and married Ollie. He and Ollie ran a gallery on Capitol Hill for several years which featured his stained glass windows. His stained glass work lives on in many residences and public buildings such as the Deluxe Tavern on Capitol Hill.

Joshua was born in 1980.

When the gallery closed Michael started working in carpentry. He worked in Seattle, Hawaii, and Southern California.

While in San Diego he started in boat building, working on large luxury yachts. Boats had always been a love of his. Something he had caught from his father. He had raced sailboats before and while in San Diego had the chance to spend many hours racing on Nirvana, a 60 foot classic wood sailboat.

He moved to San Francisco doing high end finish carpentry. Here he began his relationship with Diane. Over the next several years he moved between Seattle and San Francisco doing boat work and finish carpentry.

His work was always done with attention to detail and beauty. There are many houses and boats in the Northwest that have Michael's touch. And where ever Michael has done his work he has touched the people involved. And those people will always remain changed.