Karen Michael

Karen “Mike” Michael, 69, of Sumner, Washington, passed away on December 19, 2015 in 

Tacoma, WA.

A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at 3:00 pm, February 21, 2016 at Camp Burton Lodge (9326 SW Bayview Dr, Vashon, WA 98070). Family and friends are invited to bring their favorite potluck dish and memory or story to share. Private interment will be held later by the family.

Mike was born Karen Kay Michael on March 23, 1946 in Colorado Springs, Colorado to James Wilbur and Elizabeth Jane (Moss) Michael. When Karen was five years old, her parents moved the family to Dixon, California. She graduated from Dixon High School in 1964 and, after business school, worked as a legal secretary in California. She moved to Seattle in 1969 where she worked for the school district and in law firms. By 1987 Mike had a family and decided she wanted to raise her children in a small, rural community. A Vashon farm seemed just right. Some of Mike’s happiest memories were of her family cooking together and building family food traditions that she passed on to her daughter. A consummate storyteller, Mike spun colorful stories about learning farming skills from the ground up. Mike’s stories brimmed with love for her Vashon home and humor about life as a novice farmer.

During her professional career, Karen (who was known by coworkers and friends as “Mike”) legally changed her name to K. Mike Michael. Mike had many interests, among them volunteering with Vashon Allied Arts “Heron’s Nest” gift shop and serving as a “DAWN” crisis line operator for domestic abuse victims. One of Mike’s strongest passions was for animals, especially dogs and horses. When she moved to smaller acreage on Vashon, Mike enjoyed exploring the woods with Enu, her special dog; and she had a home that included a tiny barn and corral for her miniature appaloosa, Little Shoes. Located on the south end of Vashon, Mike named her homestead “Penumbra”. It was her special place on the fringe. In 2013, Mike retired from the Oles Morrison law firm in Seattle after 25 years of service. After retirement, she worked intermittently as a law librarian with some of her former colleagues.

Mike is survived by her daughter, Sasja (Michael-Brown) DeKoker of Tacoma; her former husband, Dennis Brown; her grandson, Dylon Tanner Brown and two great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and many close friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, James Wilbur Michael and Elizabeth Jane Michael; her brothers James Warren and Kenneth Wilbur; and by her stepson, Brian Ernest Brown. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Vashon Pet Protectors, a humane no-kill animal shelter on Vashon Island at www.VIPP.org; to KIVA, a global non-profit organization that helps eliminate poverty using microfinance institutions at www.KIVA.org;

or to DAWN, a private, non-profit that works to support the survivors of domestic violence, at www.dawnonline.org.

The family wishes to extend their gratitude to the compassionate and caring team of

doctors and nurses at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, WA.