Richard Michael McLane

Richard “Mick” McLane died on January 4, 2024. He was born October 3, 1938, in Spokane, Washington, the second child of Richard and Jean McLane and brother to his dearly loved three sisters. He was educated in Spokane and became a “Zag for life” graduating from Gonzaga Preparatory School and Gonzaga University. He later studied for his MBA at Seattle University. His childhood circumstances taught him to care for others with limited advantages. Service, no matter the circumstances, became a hallmark of his life.

Mick loved his work. Starting with management for the Boeing Company for 32 years, and then the Hexcel Corporation as Director of Lean Manufacturing. He travelled the world for his career and learned to fly small aircraft locally. His first foreign travel was in service to the Marine Corps in Korea, and later with the Peace Corps in Sokoto, Nigeria. As principal of Ama du Bello Academy, he worked to establish the Academy with Alhaji Shehu Shagari who went on to become President of Nigeria. Travel gave Mick a world view, taught him respect for cultural diversity and empathy for the minorities he worked with.

Although he loved work, he loved his wife Cissy more. Her mother said that Mick was a one-woman man, wearing his love for Cissy on his chest like a scarlet letter. Their strong marriage of 55 years was grounded in faith and focused on raising their two children, Mike and Julie, who called their dad superhero. They believed their married love was to be given beyond home, and for the last 20 years Mick volunteered his services: mentoring small businesses through SCORE; doing taxes for low income and elderly through Tax Aide; and becoming his own certified tax preparer to help small businesses.

The years of loving and serving gave way to dementia in his 80’s and death at the age of 85. Mick is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Jean McLane. He is survived by his wife, Cissy, his children Mike and Julie, sisters Donna Gadau, Judy May, Allis McLaughlin, grandchildren Seth McLane and Chance Credle. Funeral services will be held at St. Anthony Church in Renton, Washington on Friday, February 2, 2024, at 11AM. Rather than flowers, consider a donation in Mick’s name to Gonzaga Preparatory School, https://www.gprep.com. Special thanks to Aegis in Kent and Continuum Care Hospice for their care of him in his final months.