Anthony Cory 'Mike Allexander

Anthony Cory “Mike” Allexander Dec. 10, 1941 – Oct. 16, 2013 We celebrate the life of Mike Allexander and honor his passing. Mike was born as Daryl (from movie producer Darryl F. Zanuck) Ray Alford in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Dec. 10, 1941, just three days after Pearl Harbor. His father was Franklin Shelly Alford, a drag line operator who drove pilings and worked on bridges and the Corpus Christi sea wall; he died in 1966. His mother was Lenna Elizabeth Walker Alford. He had two brothers, Franklin, Jr., and Donald, both born more than 20 years before Mike and both of whom died in infancy. He also had a sister who was 19 years older, Jacqueline Alford (Campbell) Kerr. Mike believes his only surviving relatives are his nieces, Jacqueline’s daughters, Darleen Yvonne Morris of College Station, Texas (and her husband veterinarian Earl L. Morris), and Pamela Jean Stesch of Houston (and her husband and children). Mike grew up in Corpus Christi, attended Trinity Lutheran, Fannin Elementary, Baker Junior High, and graduated from W.B. Ray High School, where he was in the All-State Choir. (Farrah Fawcett is also a graduate of Ray.) He then went to the University of Texas in Austin, but left during his senior year when he had the opportunity to pursue singing and acting in New York City. He performed in road shows of Camelot and Funny Girl, among others, and also performed on tour with the Doc Severinsen Band and on the Johnny Carson Show. Mike was drafted in 1964 and was sent to Fort Lewis, the first time he came to Washington. Although he did not stay long in the active Army, Mike transferred to the Reserves, where he served until 1970. He also worked as a food manager in Seattle in the 60s and remembers singing in the Capitol Dome in Olympia for Lt. Governor John Cherberg’s swearing-in ceremony in 1965. Mike worked in California in the movie industry in 1969-72. He moved back to Texas in the early 1970s, sang with the Houston Grand Opera in 1972, and attended Del Mar College in 1974, studying police science and criminology. He worked at the Holiday Inn and the blood bank in Corpus Christi. In 1976, Mike picked a new name for himself: Anthony Cory Allexander. Anthony came from his attorney friend who helped him with the name change, Cory was from 1 Corinthians 13:4 (“Love is patient and kind….”), and Allexander was from tenor John Alexander (but with a double L), whom Mike saw perform at the old Metropolitan Opera House in New York. Michael was his confirmation name. Mike returned to Washington in 1977, living in Seattle and working in jobs such as security guard and health club assistant. He moved to Olympia in 1980 and worked as a church groundskeeper. Then he joined the National Guard as a full-time recruiter and clerk and again served his country from 1980 to 1982. He lived in Centralia and Chehalis at this time. After the Guard, he worked at a real estate company in Chehalis. Although it is difficult for those who know him now to fathom, Mike had problems with the law and served time in many Washington prisons from 1983 to 2011. In 2012, Mike devoted himself to Organizing for America, the Obama campaign. He was the most dedicated of volunteers, riding a bus to the Tacoma campaign office every day. Other volunteers and staff could not help but love his dedication, his gentle spirit, and his passionate support of candidates he believed in, such as President Obama, Jay Inslee, Patty Murray, and Derek Kilmer. He dedicated himself to doing the little things that helped everyone, whether emptying the trash, recruiting volunteers (especially veterans), calling voters, or even doorbelling in the rain. Mike loved the other volunteers and was incredibly appreciative for even the slightest favor or recognition. There were many dedicated volunteers who devoted endless hours to the campaign, but no one tried harder than Mike to make sure President Obama was reelected. He viewed the results of the election as his legacy, knowing that it will benefit generations still to come. Mike survived several rounds of treatment with the Veterans Administration during the campaign, but was always right back to the campaign office as soon as physically possible. After the campaign ended, his body gave out, as hepatitis and cancer attacked his liver, even though he kept his good spirits. He passed quietly while in the loving care of Franciscan Hospice House. A memorial service to celebrate Mike’s life will be held at the IBEW Hall, 3049 S. 36th St., Tacoma, at 10:30 am on Saturday, Oct. 26.