It is with sad hearts and the fondest of memories that the family, extended families and many friends of Michael Jeff Baugh pause to mark his quiet passing on the evening of December 13, 2023.

This is a tribute to a complex and enigmatic man who connected with and touched and cared about many people during his life. It is based on the memories of its writers with the understanding that all who knew Michael may have varying memories and experiences. Please see the end for Celebration of Life information.

Born to Billy and Audrey (Hartley) Baugh in Portland, OR on May 31, 1954, Michael was the one-year younger brother of big sister Cathie and would later be joined by sisters Gayle (1956) and Keeley (1959).

Michael and his sisters grew up on a quiet street in the Portland suburb of Beaverton at a time when it was still a well-defined 'small town' where Moms called from front porches for kids to come home for dinner. Each younger Baugh sibling followed the previous through C E Mason Grade School, Cedar Park Junior High School, and Sunset High School.

The Baughs lived on a tight budget on a half-acre with a large garden and plenty of room to play every kid game imaginable. Kids walked or ran or rode bikes everywhere and 'tested' boundaries without getting into (too much) trouble. Mike and his sisters had loving, attentive parents and grandparents, with strong core family values that served as lifelong guiding principles for him.

Daily family activities nearly always included everyone sitting down to supper together, talking about the day, making plans, lots of teasing and besting each other in never-ending word play, bad puns and jokes, and routine life was punctuated by picnics and camping trips.

Billy and Audrey maintained and instilled a strong work ethic and worked hard to provide for the family; they were heavily involved in youth group leadership for all the kids as Michael and his sisters became increasingly active in school and youth activities.

From an early age everyone had chores and responsibilities, and accountability was expected. Michael was expected to provide daily care for his half Lab half Setter, Jody, as well as taking out the trash, mowing the lawn and helping in the yard.

He had an early morning paper route, delivering the Oregonian on his bike to neighborhood customers, even though mornings were his worst time of day. As he approached high school, it was replaced by sports (wrestling, football, skiing and others), participation in school politics, theater, Scouting (after having been a Cub Scout and a Boy Scout, he was in Sea Scouts through high school), after-school jobs....and eventually more social activities such as dances, proms.....and girls.

He was undeniably good-looking, smart, funny, charismatic and very popular, but his growth spurt-fueled size 13 feet and a certain level of 'un-coordination' made him accident prone, and he sustained many minor and some more major injuries throughout his youth.

Reading and music were central to the Baugh family.

The house was full of books and every family member read avidly. By the time they were in second grade all the Baugh kids were reading years beyond their age or grade level. No Baugh kid was ever told by Mom or Dad that they couldn't read something. This reading and knowledge-seeking legacy was a core anchor of Mike's entire life.

A wide range of music emanated from both AM/FM radio and vinyl records played on 'the stereo set' in the family's living room, and throughout his life, Mike enjoyed a wide and eclectic range of music genres.

He also had lots of opportunities to venture into the world, including trips to Disneyland won through his paper route, a high school trip to Europe in the late '60s, Scout camp, Sea Scout boating and diving expeditions...and some unsanctioned 'personal' adventures, including a summer away from home without parental permission, which everyone (eventually) survived.

Each one of these forays, in addition to his natural intelligence, curiosity and proclivity for reading, built on his expanding knowledge base and sometimes surprising sensibilities that the rest of us would eventually come to appreciate. Early on he became an aficionado in all things military, World War II, world history in general, space and science. He never tired of learning.

After graduating from Sunset in June of 1972, Mike struck out on his own, college not in his immediate plans. The next few years included working as a ranch hand in Eastern Washington; attending community college in Spokane, during which time a major highlight for him was his lead production role in the school's Bi-centennial tribute variety show that toured and performed all over the Pacific Northwest during the Summer of 1976; a brief marriage to his first wife, Julie; gaining education, knowledge and experience in all things culinary and working at a number of restaurant management jobs in Washington and Texas.

He was a natural 'Foodie'. It was always fun going to good restaurants or preparing special meals at home with him.

By the late '70s the entire family had eventually - and coincidentally - moved to the greater Seattle area or beyond. Michael also landed in the Seattle area in the early '80s, continuing for a while in restaurant work, then eventually moving on to local auto auctions, where he worked in many roles, including organizing and running auctions, working with car dealers and vendors, managing staff....and playing Santa Clause at company Christmas parties.

He loved cars and knew a lot about them.  He was a smart, funny guy, a big personality to whom people were naturally attracted....and auction work suited him.

At the auction Mike met Lisa Steiner, single Mom to a young daughter, Beth, and soon expecting a second, Kristin. They married in June of 1988, creating the combined Steiner-Baugh extended family base, and in 1990 also welcomed Amanda. The family eventually settled at 34th and East D in Tacoma.

Michael began to see how life can have recurring themes. Growing up in a family with a strong Mom and three sisters was probably the best preparation he could have had for becoming the consummate 'Girl Dad' that he was to Beth, Kristin and Amanda.

There were many tests and trials and learning curves and worries, but he gave his heart to the challenge, and thus there was also plenty of fun, growth, learning....and unconditional love that never waned.

Carrying on the legacy of his own upbringing, there were family trips; lots of play time; kids' school, social, church and youth activities; grandparents and elder relatives; pets; dinner table fun, and as the girls got older, always a safe place for their friends, many of whom ultimately formed a cadre of acquired 'bonus daughters' who still think of Michael as "Dad".

Mike was an elder and very involved in the family's church, Westminster Presbyterian.

The '90s went by in a blur, a new century began, and the year 2005 found Michael on his own, as Beth was now starting her own family, Kristin had graduated from high school and was on her own, and Lisa and Amanda had relocated to Colorado. Now working for a medical supply company, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and A-Fib, which started him on his path of 'beating the odds' for the next 18 years.

In time he would acquire an implanted pacemaker and later a defibrillator to 'correct' his heart rhythm when needed. Lots of medications were eventually added, one by one, and over time there would be multiple corrective surgical procedures. He started building a team of long-term health care practitioners and caregivers who all grew to care deeply about him. He was unfailingly patient, kind, funny and personable to all he met....no matter how uncomfortable he might be.

No longer able to work full time, although he remained active in his church for a few more years, he was forced to go on SSI. While he welcomed help if offered and sometimes needed it, he never asked family or friends to support him. His independence remained very important to him.

With his life not so active anymore, from the little house at 43rd & M in Central Tacoma he spent a lot of time in books and movies, and in evolving online pursuits such as his ongoing personal quest for information and knowledge about the world, and playing Words With Friends, Cribbage, Hearts and other games with s growing circle of online friends and followers. He visited with Mom and Dad and other family often and maintained relationships with many friends from his high school days, and attended some of his Sunset reunions.

When Logan was born in 2008, Mike provided loving day care while Mom Kristin (now married to Nick Keogh) went to school, initiating a strong early bond between 'Papa' and grandson.

Even with his mobility curtailed, there were still a few more travels for him, including some trips to the coast (he loved the ocean), a couple of long train trips, some drives to Oregon and two trips to Colorado to see Amanda graduate from high school, then college.

In the Spring of 2010 Mike broke his right ankle and over the next couple of years it failed to heal correctly and became increasingly worse. Just after his 60th birthday in 2014 his right leg was amputated just below the knee.

Combined with his heart condition and other complications, recovery from the amputation was difficult at best, marked by significant mobility challenges, setbacks, multiple iterations of his prosthesis, and at one point a broken left ankle. His accident prone-ness from childhood had returned to haunt him in his 60s.

During this time, he lived with sister Gayle and brother in-law Michael (Yamamoto) in a big one-story house in Lakewood that provided relatively easy access and mobility options to support his long-term recovery.

Ongoing health complications saw him in and out of rehab facilities several times, but some fun was also had in Lakewood, remembering family history, enjoying good food, conversation, the word play and bad puns that had always been a mainstay, and watching movies, sports and late-night TV. During this time, he got to see or connect with the girls, as well Logan and Harper (welcomed by the family in 2013) pretty frequently.

He also managed to do a bit more traveling, including a 'Mexican Riviera' cruise and a visit to sister Keeley in Alaska.

He routinely engaged with a lot of people on social media where he was able to post his own poetry as well as fantasy images and actual pictures of ships, the ocean, dragons, horses and the moon, and to freely articulate himself. It was sometimes raw and could be disconcerting....but it was authentic.

In June of 2015 Dad Billy's unexpected passing at 83 hit everyone – and especially Michael - hard, and we all spent a lot more time with Mom Audrey, either at Parkland or Lakewood....until she moved to a senior living community in North Seattle in 2018.

Michael had always hoped to get back out on his own and be independent again, and in September of 2019 he moved into an apartment in Lakewood. Still able to drive, and with a little help from family, he did pretty well there for the first full year of COVID. He took all the suggested precautions and managed to stay clear of it.

In late '20 he entered - for what was supposed to be a short stay – a skilled nursing facility to recover from a fall, where he then contracted a severe case of COVID, which led to multiple overlapping complications. He was unable to stay in his apartment, and in December of '21 moved into an adult family home, where he had a lot of daily help and actually thrived, gaining strength and improving his balance and mobility...all with the goal of getting back out on his own again.

Unfortunately, this rebound was short-lived. In better shape and spirits than he had been in a while, and with the goal of independence, he got a full left knee replacement in June of '22, only to once again sustain multiple complications, this time including with his heart and meds.

If that wasn't frustrating enough, the unplanned extended absence from his residence caused him to lose his room there. Late July found him not only in need of ongoing OT, PT and other care, but also with no place to live. With the intention of ultimately getting back into his own place, he rejoined Gayle and Mike Y, living in University Place with Mom Audrey, now 90, also having moved there earlier in the year.

Who around the Baugh supper table in the 1960s could ever have foreseen this unique family (re-)configuration in the 202Xs?

By all reckonings this was not a 'bad' thing. Mike and Mom hadn't been able to see much of each other during the pandemic, and we all got to see a lot more of the Keoghs and other family. Mike was really happy to be able to regularly connect with family. As chaotic as it was for a few months there were also some good meals, laughs and great conversations had.

Audrey's passing over Thanksgiving weekend in 2022 was hard for everyone, but as with Billy, especially tough for Mike. While living with family at that point was probably for the best, he still had his sights set on being independent again and over the next few months doubled down as best he could on the things he needed to do to get there, including OT, PT and pursuing a long-time wish of getting dentures, which took up most of the summer of '23....and was realized in August with a bright new smile to share with everyone.

Working with family and multiple support agencies, in late August he moved into his own apartment off of Pearl St in North Tacoma and enjoyed his last few months independently, the way he wanted.

He had just gotten mostly settled in, with his warplane and ship pictures on the walls, his books in the bookcases that Dad Billy had made many years ago, and frequent visits from family and caregivers, when increasing concerns with his heart warranted doctors' plans for yet another 'ablation' procedure.

He checked in for the procedure on the morning of December 13 and never recovered from it. At about 10 PM that evening he passed quickly and quietly after the removal of life support and with family members nearby both in person and on speakerphone.

Now at peace and no longer with pain, Michael Baugh is preceded in his passing by parents Billy and Audrey Baugh, his daughters' Mom Lisa (2021), brother in-law George ('Mike') Porter (2021), paternal grandparents Eddie and Esther Baugh, maternal grandparents Arley and Edna Hartley, his beloved dog Jody and a large extended family including great grandparents he knew during his lifetime and many loved aunts, uncles and treasured friends.

Gathering in person and remotely to remember him now and forever are his daughters and their respective families, Beth Dahlke, Kristin Keogh and Amanda Baugh; his sisters, Cathie Baugh, Gayle (Mike) Torgerson Yamamoto and Keeley Porter; nine amazing grandchildren whom he loved and followed on social media and who will always remember and miss their 'Papa'; the aforementioned cadre of 'bonus daughters' who will always think of him as "Dad", and a large extended family and circle of friends for whom he cared deeply.

Thanks to all who cared about Michael, who met him where he was and accepted him as he was, who held him in your thoughts and hearts, who played online word and other games with him, who had meaningful conversations with him, who appreciated his humor and poetry and who were friends with him. The importance to him of those connections was immeasurable and greatly eased the most challenging moments of his life.

The family would also like to express appreciation for all of Michael's past and recent doctors, nurses, social workers and caregivers, as well as West Pierce Fire and Aid and the staff at New Tacoma Cemetery...for everything you have ever done to help and support him in the tireless effort to provide quality of life, comfort and dignity in what were often challenging and difficult situations.

Michael did not specify any preferences for donations, nor does the family request any. The best way to honor him would be to live life well, meet your challenges and be kind to others...even when you might not feel like it. Keep his memory, be curious, learn and grow and have good times. Give in his memory, if you wish, where it will do the most good for those most in need, whether it be people, animals or the Earth.

The Celebration of Life for Michael Jeff Baugh will be held on Friday, January 19 from 1-3 PM in the chapel at New Tacoma Cemetery at
9212 Chambers Creek Road W in University Place, WA 99467.

Attire for this ceremony is casual comfort...including Hawaiian shirts for anyone who wishes. Mike would love that!

This is a celebration of Michael's life, not meant to be somber, no matter how much we miss him. That would be his wish. Most of the ceremony
time has been allocated for sharing. We encourage and would love to
hear your stories and memories and what you loved about Michael.

If you have a story to share but have stage fright, please enter it in the comments attached to this tribute or reach out to Kristin on FB a few days before 1/19. We have people who would be happy to help share your stories. Please say who you are, how you were connected to Michael and for how long.

All are welcome, but if you cannot attend you can watch the livestream by clicking on the following link at the designated time:
https://view.oneroomstreaming.com/index.php?data=MTcwNTYzMDc2NjI5MTQ0MiZvbmVyb29tLWFkbWluJmNvcHlfbGluaw==