Marie Michael

Clara Marie Gile Michael passed away in her sleep of age-related causes on Monday, December 9, 2019. She was 87 years old. Marie was born to Claude and Laura Gile. She was one of nine children. Marie was a lifelong resident of Olympia, growing up with a large family on the Gile Blueberry Farm in the Gull Harbor area. The farm, those fields and the sweet berries, were a big part of her life; picking, pruning, selling blueberries and making delicious jams and syrups for family and friends. Marie graduated from Olympia High School in 1950 and married Howard Michael. They had three children, Tim (Sandy) of Olympia, Cheryl of Kenai, Alaska, and Janette of Olympia. Marie worked at John Rogers Elementary School, the downtown Safeway, and enjoyed caring for children at her home. After her divorce from Howard, Marie had a loving partner, Dewey Taylor of Raymond. They enjoyed traveling and monthly trips to Reno until his death in 2003. Marie was very independent and hard working. She took pride in mowing her lawn well into her 80s, baking the most delicious blueberry pies, canning tuna from Westport, and quilting warm quilts for family and friends. She was a devoted pen pal and many of her friends enjoyed reading her five-page letters. She loved her weekly card group and enjoyed keeping score for her sister Jean at horse shoes competitions. Marie loved animals, especially birds. She loved taking pictures and getting often double prints to share with friends and family. Marie is preceded in death by her siblings, James, Tiny, Juanita, Ann, and Leon. Marie is survived by her sisters, Jean Covington, Betty VanVleck; her brother, Kenny; her three children; two grandsons, Tyler (Brionna) Michael of Olympia and James Morgan of Kenai, Alaska; and five great grandchildren. The family want to thank Marian Russell and Charlene Griffith for their many hours of caregiving for Marie. The family is also thankful for the staff at Garden Courte Memory Care and The Firs Retirement Apartments.