Michael Alan Reynolds

Michael Alan Reynolds, known lovingly as "Mikey" by family members, passed suddenly on Sunday, November 17, 2024 in Hillsboro, Oregon after succumbing to liver and lung cancer, at age 75.

Mike was born January 25, 1949 in Portland, Oregon to Walter C. Reynolds, M.D., and Mildred E. Squires Reynolds. He was predeceased by his beloved parents, Dr. Reynolds in 2020 and Mildred Eleanor in 1991; his sister Jeanne in 2018; and his brother Charles Wesley in 1954. Mike was the first son, and second oldest of six children. In 2022, Mike was predeceased by the love of his life, Carole Lee (Ray) Reynolds, his wife of 44 years.

After he graduated from Cleveland High School (Portland, OR) in June 1967, Mike attended University of Oregon and studied Art, played football, and was a CO during the Vietnam War. Before it was politically correct, Mike was a "multiculturalist" with a wide circle of friends of all ages and beliefs. He was a humanitarian and held only goodwill toward others. He was brilliant, a speed-reader and knew something about any topic. Mike shared his father’s ardent belief that, “everyone deserves quality healthcare” regardless of your race, culture, or religious persuasion. He also highly valued holistic approaches to health and healing.

A new job with the local AT&T phone company opened in 1969 and Mike applied for it, even though it was a temporary position. Little did he know this job would define his life-long career path. Overtime, the company was sued by the U.S. Justice Department for anti-trust, and eventually became Qwest, and is now CenturyLink. Mike stayed loyal to the company through all the changes.

Fifty years later, Mike completed a fruitful career and retired from CenturyLink. He was awarded numerous certifications and recognitions for his extraordinary knowledge, professional training, exemplary work ethic, and technical expertise.

Mike loved to be outdoors with his beautiful Golden Retriever, “Bud.” He hitch-hiked to the Bay Area with a University of Oregon college friend, Suzanne “Susie” Barrell (Brisbane, Australia), only to be barred from visiting his sister, Liz, at Mills College, due to local anti-war protests. Mike spent several summers working with the U.S. Forest Service in the Mount St. Helens region of southwest Washington State. He was stationed in the dense forest region, “before and after” volcanic ash leveled the area following the massive volcanic eruption in 1980.

Our beloved Mike was a true Renaissance Man! He was a gourmet cook, who also tinkered with cars and could fix anything. He was an artist, a passionate motorcycle owner, a cyclist, and an avid golfer who would enjoy friendly golf competitions with his brother, Walter. Mike played a cool game of billiards, loved the country music of Willie Nelson, and the singing-songwriting talents of his niece, Ifé. One memorable adventure Mike often reminisced about was a family trip to Mumbai (India), for his sister, Lori’s, wedding to Sunil Nischol on December 17, 1994. Mikey will always be remembered for his steadfast loyalty to his family and friends, both near and far.

Mike, is survived by his siblings, Liz A. Reynolds Thomas, PhD (Seattle, WA); Walter S. Reynolds (Laura Clear) in Las Vegas, NV; Lori S. Reynolds Nischol (Sunil) in Montclair, NJ; his two nieces Ifé A. Thomas (Seattle, WA), and most recently, Alexiis Lee (Tampa, FL); nephews Arjun and Armaan Nischol (Montclair and New York, respectively); his wife's daughter, Debra Hager and her husband, Phil, a fellow ‘free spirit’ and friend, and their daughter, Jamie Hager (all of Tygh Valley, OR); a multitude of childhood neighbors on Evergreen Street & 42nd Avenue; many cousins and their families, Ron Smith (Portland, OR) and Teresa L. Duruisseau (Vancouver, WA), Gary Reynolds and wife LaLita (Aiken, S.C.), Rebecca “Becky” Reynolds (Riverside, CA), Charlotte Reynolds (Christon) Quao, husband Percy (Vancouver, B.C.), and Phillip Reynolds (Renton, WA); long-time friends Kent Mercer, Dr. Juana R. Royster, Frances Carr, and Holly Kean (all of Seattle, WA); Gayle A. Johnson (Seattle, WA - Atlanta, GA); dear friends, Judy Hayes (Portland, OR), Beverly J. Hilliard and her son Gregory “Abdu” Hilliard, also of Portland; and new friends, Susie Hutchins (Seattle, WA), Destiny Weisweaver (Vancouver, WA), Jesse and Martin Oldaker (Portland, OR).

The Reynolds Family wholeheartedly thanks the entire medical and health teams for their loving and compassionate care of Mike during his brief stay at Kaiser Westside Medical Center in Hillsboro, Oregon.

We love and miss you mightily, Mikey!