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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Dooley, Michael John

Age 84

DOOLEY, Michael John (Age 84) Mike passed away on November 18, 2012, at his home, with his beloved family by his side.

Mike was born in Ironwood, Michigan on February 14, 1928, to a family of two brothers and three sisters and grew up in Iron Mountain Michigan.

In his wonderful and storied lifetime, Mike worked with the circus, served in the Navy during WWII as a cook and deck gunner on submarines in the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters, was a race car driver and owner, rode motorcycles, was an avid outdoorsman, worked in the construction trades and lastly retired as an engineer with the Union Pacific Railroad.

Mike moved to Spokane WA in 1955 and married Barbara Page of Vancouver, Canada, in 1956.

Mike loved to go camping, hunt and fish, work in his garden and was an avid raconteur who enjoyed telling stories and talking to people.

Mike is survived by his wife of 56 years Barbara (Babs) Dooley, his sister Laura (Dooley) and Vernon Billiau and his children, Michelle (Dooley) and Greg Backstrom, Kevin and Theresa Dooley, Sean and Sue Dooley, Laura (Dooley) and John White, Sandra (Dooley) Hurlburt and her partner Casey Hooker.

He has nine grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Mikes last selfless act was to donate his body to medical science through Medcure.

Funeral and Memorial Services will be held at the Washington State Veterans Cemetery, 21702 W. Espanola Rd in Medical Lake on Friday, January 25th promptly at 3:00 pm.

Please dress warmly.

In lieu of flowers please make a contribution to Mike’s favorite charity, the Spokane Neighborhood Action Program (SNAP) at www.snapwa.org/ Our heartfelt thanks goes out to Horizon Hospice and their wonderful staff.