Born July 11, 1940, to James and Esther (Ickes) Snavely in Aberdeen Washington, Michael David Snavely passed away Feb. 5, 2022, at Capitol Medical Center in Olympia, Washington.
Mike began school in Aberdeen at Whitman Elementary, later graduating with the class of 1958 at A. J. Weatherwax High School in Aberdeen. During high school Mike was a member of a band, playing his saxophone. He and his band mates would travel all around the Peninsula playing at dances.
Mike joined the Naval Reserve as a junior in high school and in 1959, he began his two-year obligation of active duty. At the end of this enlistment, he re-enlisted for six years. He was a true TinCanSailor, having served on three destroyers (USS Twining DD540, USS Wilhoite DER 397, and USS Douglas H Fox DD779). Mike served on both coasts, traveling over much of the world, and crossing the equator to become a “Shellback.” Mike exited the Navy as a Signalman First Class Petty Officer in April 1967. As a Signalman his duty hours were spent on the ships bridge, where he became friends with the captains, one of which advanced in rank to be the Chief of Naval Operations. Mike kept in contact with him and never failed to rub it in to his Navy friends.
After his stint in the Navy, he went to Montana to be close to his mother and to attend college under the GI bill. During the next three summer breaks Mike returned to Seattle to work for the Merchant Marine Union. He was lucky, being in the right place at the right time, he got picked up as an Able-Bodied Seaman on a freighter carrying ammunition to support the war in Vietnam. After completing college, he went to work for a geological survey unit.
Mike sought warmer weather and left Montana and was hired as a civilian by Naval Ships Weapons Systems Engineering Station at Port Hueneme, California in the logistics department from where he retired.
Mike was very active in the organization of his high school reunions, bringing his vintage jukebox, loaded with the rock ‘and’ music of his era, to dance to. Mike kept track of all the classmates’ addresses and phone numbers, plus being in charge of committee assignments and arranging for the venue.
Mike was a dog lover and modified the luggage carrier on his Goldwing to accommodate his Westy “Sailor” for the ride from Port Hueneme to Aberdeen for reunion attendance. Where Mike went his dogs went. At the 45th reunion he re-united with his present wife Sharon, and they wed in Palm Springs, California, and the reception was at our local Medal of Honor recipient Robert Bush’s home. Mike was honored to travel with Bob to several MOH reunions and dedications as far away as Okinawa. Mike especially enjoyed meeting Mitchel Paige, USMC Colonel and MOH recipient, and often talked about him and the many other great service men and women he met throughout his travels. Mike really enjoyed his breakfast outings with his close friends.
Mike is survived by his wife Sharon of 21 years, her children Brad (Jennifer) Rhoden of Montesano and Bryan Rhoden of Lacey. He also had five grandchildren: LeeAnn, Sawyer, Daniel, Russel and Uriah Rhoden, sister-in-law, Elizabeth Snavely, brother and sister-in-law Tom and Shirley Gruhn, five nephews and nieces: David Snavely, Tonya Fisher, Joan Fisher-Aubert, Bill Fisher and Jeff Fisher. He was preceded in death by his both parents, his brother Richard Snavely, his sister Charmaine Fisher (Snavely) and nephew Richard Snavely.
A celebration of life will take place later in the summer. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation to be made in Mike’s name to a local military memorial or a local pet shelter.
