Michael J. Walsh

Michael John Walsh, 81, Ellensburg WA. Better known as Mike, Uncle Mike, “Pops”, the old man, peacefully passed away September 6, 2026 with his wife Carolyne of 61 years by his side. He was in rehab from hip surgery after an accidental fall. He also was dealing with advanced stages of dementia. He is survived by his children, Alice Garoutte, Steven, Walter, Robert, Christine Pidone and Karl, 15 grand kids, 13.5 great grand kids. He is also survived by one sister Aileen Ven Eman of Cottage Grove OR.

Youngest of 5 sisters and 1 brother. Born and raised in the Greenlake area of Seattle. At 6 months of age, he lost his father, Walter H. Walsh, a Federal Mine Inspector, from a cave-in while inspecting a mine in Bellingham, WA. His father was of Irish/Wales descent, born in the rough and tough mining town of Butte, MT. His mother Charlotte Marie Bagnell Walsh was of English descent and Pioneer Heritage, born in Park City, UT. The stories of her life were like listening to an old time western. Her dad was the Justice of the Peace in Cumberland WY also a rough and tough mining town.

Greenlake was Mike's old stomping ground where his best friend Donny Olson and sister Joyce would meet up with their friends and get into who knows what but swimming and running around would have been a big part of it, until they got cars.

He went to John Marshall Jr High where he eventually saw his future wife in Miss Moore's art class in the 9th grade, and loved to pester her. He sat 2 desks behind her with his friend in front of him. He’d have his friend pull on her long ponytail and delighted in her reaction, she did not like him. They finally got acquainted when she saw him at the LDS church youth group, where he had joined the Sea Scouts, part of BSA. They dated through high school even though they ended up going to rival schools, she to Roosevelt and he Lincoln. Short time after high school they married May of 1965 and went with their friends across the state on motorcycles to Dear Park to a motorcycle meet for their honeymoon and that's a whole other story.

Mike was very much into Scouting, from a Cub Scout to Assistant Scout Master, Merit badge councilor, 50 mile'rs, Wood Badge and more. He was a Lake City Western Vigilante and was in many parades participated in many shoot outs and antics to helped raise money for the children. He was in the Coast Guard Auxiliary and taught boating safety and mastered knot tying. He loved motorcycles, hill climbing, slag piles, off road, a little racing. He even did figure 8 car racing. Eventually he got into Cushman scooters and joined the California Cushman Club of America, enjoying the annual meets in Anderson CA, and the national meet in Sturgis South Dakota. Sturgis, now that was an experience. He did leatherwork, jewelry making. He loved tools and loved using them and showing others how to use them. His garage is full... He enjoyed camping and using survival skills and enjoyed teaching others especially his family such skills. And loved playing dominos.

He worked hard to take care of his family. Was always able to find work even with his severe dyslexia. He started out as a gas station attendant, janitor, choker man in the woods for Scott Paper, pipe layer out of local 440, mowed lawns and yard cleanup. He was encouraged by a friend to apply at the Seattle Parks Department as a Maintenance Sewerman where he worked 8 years, in all Seattle parks, including Greenlake, his old stomping grounds and Woodland Park Zoo. The stories about his scary and fun encounters with the zoo animals are great. Worked for Jake the Plumber, Regan's Big B Towing, Porky Park Farms Thorp WA, Lift Operator, Alpental, Zack Towing Cle Elum, mechanic, welder, carpenter, fabricator, electrician. He even had his own business. Coming from a family of mostly girls he was called upon to help get them out of trouble, often, so they would call uncle Mike, and so became the name of his business; "Uncle Mike's Handyman Service". He did apartment maintenance and repair, working with and for the owners. Over the years developing into a close and lasting friendships. He did work for a short time for Rodeo Town Taxi in Ellensburg, which was an experience in itself to say the least, transporting college students. His last job was for Dennis Davidson of Easton Towing in Easton WA, another close and lasting friendship. Along the way of life, he has made some very close and dear friends which he cherished. He may have had a tough exterior, he had a very big and caring heart.

His guardian angels had their work cut out for them. Throughout his life he has been in some very hairy situations, crawling deep underground into manholes to assess and or make repairs, working in deep ditches that were collapsing in on him, recovering vehicles from very dangerous situations, even being accidentally closed in the Lion enclosure with the lion still in it.

He always looked forward to the family and friends get-togethers, especially the 15 years of annual “Pork Out” and “white Elephant”. When we had the missionaries over, he enjoyed showing off his sword and knife collection and giving them all pocket knives, especially the sister missionaries.

Mike was baptized June of 1962 into The Church of Latter-Day Saints and in June of 1976 in the Salt Lake Temple was endowed, sealed to his parents and sealed for time and all eternity to his wife and children. He has had his life’s ups and downs but has had a testimony of the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He very much enjoyed and looked forward to doing the work in the Temple for his ancestors.

Mike's family will host a memorial service at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 17, 2026 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Magnolia Building.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.johnston-williams.com