Michael William Hough

Michael William Hough, age 74, passed away December 5, 2022. Mike (a.k.a. Dad, Uncle Mike, Hough, Big Mike) was born on December 21, 1947, in Kalamazoo, MI. The son and second child of Harvey Hough and Ila Boileau (née Rainey), he was raised in Pullman, MI by his mother, Ray Boileau, the man he called Dad, and his Grandma and Grandpa Rainey, along with his three siblings: Sharon McNeal (Jamie), Virginia Beach, VA; Donna Johnston (Stan), South Haven, MI; and Dolores Schutt (Tony), Fennville, MI. He attended Allegan High School, in Allegan, MI.

Mike worked hard his whole life, starting when he picked blueberries at just 8 years old. Up until his mid-twenties, he lived in Michigan where he served in the Merchant Marines on the Medusa Challenger and worked at other jobs including a steel mill, the county road department, a meat packing house, a tree cutting business, and more.

In the early 1970’s, he moved to Steamboat Springs, CO and worked in construction around Steamboat Springs and Hayden until he was hired by Schmidt Tiago in Craig where he put in water and sewer lines all over town. He then worked as an underground coal miner for Empire Energy Coal Mine for 17 years, followed by driving a cement mixer for Northwest Ready Mix for 20 or so years, until he retired in 2012.

Mike’s love of the outdoors began when he was a young boy, and he grew into an avid and well-respected outdoorsman. His love of fishing, hunting, trapping, camping, and walking many a mile with his nose to the ground looking for Native American artifacts and animal sheds continued to his last elk hunt in November with his nephew. Just less than a month short of 75 years old, he didn’t need glasses for distance and could spot wildlife in the field or the side of a mountain miles away. One of his greatest joys was sharing the beauty and wonders of nature with others.

His beloved cabin on eighty acres west of Maybell, CO, “The Ranch,” was his Heaven on Earth. He loved every second that he spent there, alone or with others. He knew the surrounding area like the back of his hand. He loved taking people of all ages for hours long rides in his truck listening and singing to the oldies. He knew every word of the song and every turn in the road. He loved history, especially local history, and read book after book about the people who lived on and worked this land.

Mike was a man with a big presence, a hearty laugh, and a few well-placed words, often causing the other person to pause, look around, and think for a moment about what the heck he just said. His quick wit and quotes are legendary among those who knew him, most unfit for print. After a while you knew they were coming by the glint in his eye. He would deliver them as if it were the first time, every time, following up the comment by throwing his head back with a big grin and belly laugh.

Here’s a sampling of comments that will be familiar:

- I’ll be dipped in ________ !

- Don’t be ________.

- When you’re older and more mature like me, you’ll ________.

Mike was a collector. If you’ve ever seen his garage, you know! In addition to collecting artifacts and antiques, especially guns, old traps, and gas lamps, he also collected people. Mike had so many friends that he hunted, fished, trapped, camped, hiked, and played cards with through the years.

In addition to Mike’s many human friends, he had many dog friends, too – Tippy, Tuffy, Max, Mickey, Sammy, Rocky, Festus, and Lucy. Some could hunt, and others not so much, but he loved them all.

Mike was first married in Charlevoix, MI to his then wife, Mary, and they had three children: Mitchell Hough (Julia), Nanjing, China; Marlo Kleiber (Lyle) Charlevoix, MI; and Lea Hough (Brian), Ellsworth, MI.

When he moved to Colorado, Mike found love again with his beloved wife, Peggy (“Peg”) Hough (Craig, CO), and three more children. He adopted Melissa Hough Curtin (Mike) Ellicott City, MD, and Eric Hough (Stefanie), Vernal, UT when they were five and six years old, and together, Mike and Peg had Benjamin Hough (Jescea), Rock Springs, WY.

He also helped to raise Peggy’s sister Janet Brown’s children and treated them as his own: Charlynne Wondra (Kenny), Craig, CO; Scot Brown (Toni), Montrose, CO; and Sheli Steele, Craig, CO.

Mike is survived by 13 grandchildren: Lauren Thurston, Michael Berry, Hailey Hough, Cassidy Hough, Jodi Hough, Aubrey Savage, Michael Hough, and Sophie Hough, Emma Flowers, Hannah Julier, Paxton Julier, Ella Kleiber, Lyle Kleiber, and 12 great grandchildren.

Mike shared 48 years of great adventures with Peggy. They laughed a lot…at and with each other! And while she tested his patience time and time again, he loved her dearly. He was most happy when he had her all to himself. He waited around endlessly while Peggy talked, shopped for fabric, and talked some more to every person in her path. He’d go out and sit in his truck and wait for her. If he couldn’t sit in his truck, he’d finally say, “Peg. It’s time to go.”

On Sunday morning, December 4, Mike told Peg one last time that it was time to go. He sat with her for hours that morning, just the two of them, while he listed everything that he could think of that he wanted her to know, including how much he loved her. And then, in classic Mike Hough style, he said to her and the doctor, “Let’s get this magic carpet ride started.”

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A Celebration of Life will be held sometime this summer at Loudy-Simpson Park where he loved to spend time when in town.

Special Note of Gratitude

A sincere thank you to Carol Bolt, PA, Craig, CO and the doctors and nurses at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction, CO, as well as the nurses at HopeWest Hospice in Grand Junction who took such gentle care of him in his last days and hours. A special thank you to Earth angel Cody Hill (who grew up in Craig, CO) for making sure Mike went with the angels clean, shaved, and as handsome as ever.

Gifts in Mike’s Memory

Many have asked, and some have already sent gifts in Mike’s memory. We are looking into a memorial, perhaps a bench, that can be placed at Loudy-Simpson Park in his honor. In lieu of flowers, if you’d like to contribute to this memorial, please send your gift to: Peggy Hough, 756 Ashley Road, Craig, CO 81625

Mike gave every year to the Food Bank of the Rockies to help end hunger in the Craig, CO area. You may consider contributing in his memory through the Food Bank of the Rockies via this link to ensure your gift supports the Western Slope: https://www.foodbankrockies.org/about/western-slope/

Mike Hough Memories

Mike was a son, brother, husband, father, role model, friend, and mentor to many. It’s impossible to share the impact he had on so many people. Our family would love to hear your Mike Hough Memories, including any thoughts, stories, pictures, and videos you may have to share. Please share them below by clicking on Add a Memory.