— from Doug Marshall —
Mike Butler was buried this morning (Sunday, June 29, 2014), at Olga Cemetery.
Mike had been dealing with pancreatic cancer for some time. At the point he needed more intensive care, he was welcomed into the home of his longtime friends Tonya and Blake Baida, who provided loving care and support.
Mike passed away early Saturday morning, and at his request he was quickly given a “green burial” with the help of many, many Orcas Island friends. A simple but beautiful casket was built by Tom Meadows, using materials donated by Island Hardware. Others hand-dug his grave and selected personal items to be buried with him.
About 70 people were able to attend his funeral, in spite of the short notice. In accordance with his strong Christian faith, the Lord’s Prayer was read in the King James version, honoring one of the many stickers on his iconic blue pickup: “If it ain’t King James, it ain’t Bible!”
Mike was 68, and a U. S. Army veteran. He was employed for years by Cherie L. Lindholm Real Estate. He is survived by five siblings.
A “Celebration of Life” ceremony will be announced.
Sweet man, he will be missed.
Bless Tonya and Blake Baida, for taking care of him– what a truly generous gift.
An icon for sure, but more than that. I think every day was an adventure for Mike and the high point of his day was fixing something or doing someone a favor. He will be sorely missed.
Mike,
Your steadfast belief in God had a profound effect on more people than you can imagine.
I’m glad your pain is over and that you finally get to rest at peace with God.
gb
Mike was a teacher at heart and he happily educated any one who would listen. He passed out 100s of DVDs and thousands of pages of articles and reports on world events and understanding the times from a Christian perspective. There is no one who can take his place.
Mike – you will be missed more than you know. 26 years is a long time to work together and laugh and cry together. We get comfortable sometimes and forget nothing is forever.
We can’t believe you won’t be here to help put up American flags about town this year for the Fourth of July celebrations as you have for so many years, showing your love of this country and to wear your grandiose patriotic hats.
Thank you for standing fast on your beliefs. You are now at the right hand side of the Lord as you desired. He is proud to have you. We were lucky to have you in our Community.
Love,
Ken and Karen
Mike was kind and generous to everyone. Talking with him was always a pleasure, and enlightening. He was always doing for others – he walked his talk and lived his faith, yet was never pushy toward anyone about it. He lived by example. He was an icon and a good man, and I will miss him.
Half the time, I thought Mike was crazy; and the other half of the time, I thought he was one of the wisest people I’ve ever met. I always enjoyed talking to him.
Mike was a true Teacher and a man of Integrity. He was what I think of as an Old Islander, one who cared about others and treated others with absolute dignity and respect even when they were rude to him (which I witnessed). Mike was one of the most Accepting people I knew. He was calm, centered, and confident in his beliefs, both Spiritual and Political and I looked forward to receiving his latest DVDS and articles. Mike was very generous with his knowledge, he loved God and he loved his Country!
One year on my Birthday I decided to get dressed up, and went to town. There, I saw Mike at the Post Office. He complimented me on how I looked and I shared with him that it was my Birthday. So Mike went into his truck and came out with a Birthday Present for me! A Silver Ingot! Wow! I was thrilled! It was such a sweet gift and a touching gesture!
I was devastated when I heard that he had left us. Sure,I know that he is a lot happier where he is, but for us, those left behind, the Island seems so much poorer with knowing we won’t see him in his blue truck anymore, generously dispensing Knowledge to those willing to seek it.
I wish you Fair Winds and Calm Seas Mike! With Love, Spirit Eagle
Mike was a true old-school gentleman, and an unswerving friend to so many in our community. Vaya con Dios, Mike.
I will so miss Mike. I will miss his friendship, his kindness, and his humor. What a loss for Olga. Mike was true to himself, a virtue I have always appreciated in him.
I’ve known Mike since he fixed our hot water tank, ca. 2000, and our conversation turned to conspiracy theories. That’s when he gave me an initial lot of VHS tapes. I last saw him a month ago, when he dropped by our office with his latest–and last–‘care package’. I knew he had kidney issues but he did not mention the cancer. But he was always content with his fate, whatever it might be, because he knew he was going to Heaven. Mike was one of the sweetest, caring people I’ve met, with a wry sense of humor. He also served a very important function: injecting a very alternative view of Reality into our community consciousness. We didn’t necessarily agree on a variety of topics, but without Mike’s gentle persistence and relentless friendliness, a lot of us would have remained ignorant about a range of ideas and concepts. He was uniquely himself, and I will miss him, a lot.
We moved to the island in 1996 and off the island 2012.For as long as we can remember Mike was available to repair anything that went wrong, broke or otherwise became a problem. It just took a phone call, and there he was. He always had wonderful stories to tell and made me laugh about something at each encounter. Mike was a wise and God loving man. When we made this move to Arizona, we talked about not being able to find a great handyman like Mike, and we still haven’t. We all know you will RIP.
Mikey I will miss you at my Thanksgiving and Xmas table. Thank you for your prayers last Thanksgiving it was a difficult time, I was blessed to have you in my home!
Thanks for your help with my truck, my faucet, my kitchen light. I told you before you left us that I fixed something myself, you were proud of me! Thank you for being my friend. I miss you.
We lived on Orcas for six years, ourselves a character in island life driving our 1965 white Chevy. Islanders do know you by your car, like Mike’s blue truck with bumper stickers galore. We had work done at a rental we lived at in North Beach and that’s when we met Mike the first time. We were young kids, new pioneers to the “rock.” We did not know Mike well but we saw him everywhere with a friendly hello. He became apart of our lives, our experience on Orcas. I know it must have been hard for Mike to take his final journey away from all that he knew, as hard as it was for us to say our final good-bye to Orcas when we moved away. We heard the sad news of your passing through an island friend today. Mike you are in true paradise now!
In Memory of Mike:
Across the pale blue sky I see a shimmer of light in the distance. I wonder what it could be. I step a little further through the trees to the sandy beach below. I feel young again and all my pains are washed away from me. I don’t want to leave my frail body behind because all that I have known and loved is there. But I wonder what that is, that flickering glow. I walk past the blowing grass and I feel the sand between my toes. I reach the shoreline and I see the golden lights. I see now what this is all about. God has called me home. I feel his warmth and love and I look and see all that I once knew and the ones that I loved once again. But, still there is something missing here, I will be longing and waiting for you…
Mike was the best caretaker, helper, counsel, and most active conduit to ‘other-views (that should always be considered if not fully embraced)
Mike always helped me & my wife, Judy, on our cabin property in Spring Point, and, it’s only because we have not come to Orcas for four years that we did not know about his passing.
I am so sorry. He had become a valued friend over the past 15 years, but I guess I was too “off island” to be aware of how ill Mike may have been. He didn’t dwell on his problems, but he wanted all his friends to take a look at and see what HE thought were problems our whole world faces.
God bless you, Mike, & Good Rest for all your caring of others.
Craig