Michael “Mike” Dennis Bagley was born in Aberdeen, Washington, Nov. 11, 1953, to Norman and Juanita (Miller) Bagley. He would complete the family of five that included his older sister Cheryl Mahler and his older brother James “Jim” Bagley.

Mike grew up in Hoquiam and graduated from Hoquiam High School in ’72.

Mike followed in his father and older brother’s footsteps and became a police officer. His career began at the Hoquiam Police Department in 1975. It was in 1988 that he became an active member of WACOPS as a representative from the Aberdeen Police Officer’s Guild, a board member, and nine years as the vice president. Upon his resignation from WACOPS, the president of the organization had this to say about him, “I have been on the Executive Board going on 14 years, and Mike Bagley has always been there, volunteering for assignments to help WACOPS get to the level it is at right now. You did make a difference, and we all owe you a debt of gratitude, my friend.”

In 1991, he began working for the Aberdeen Police Department. While with APD, he was awarded Employee of the Year in 1997. At that time, he was a Child Abuse Detective, a position he started in 1994.

Mike dedicated his life to helping people. During his law enforcement career, he served his community with a huge heart and did what he could to protect people, especially kids. Along with his buddy and co-worker Vince Morales, he started a program called The Neutral Zone in the ‘90s that was a safe place for teens to hang out. During the ’90s gang activity was a big issue in the community and Mike and Vince wanted to create a safe place for teens to hang out without any gang influence.

Not only that, but he also was instrumental in creating the Children’s Advocacy Center that is now in Montesano, Washington. When he was a detective with APD, he saw the trauma that children went through having to recount their trauma multiple times and wanted to alleviate that and provide resources for the child and family. So, he helped to create a place where all the different departments come to the child where they recount their trauma and have resources at hand to help children, as well as their families.

The Children’s Advocacy Center is the reason he retired from the Aberdeen Police Department. He had accepted the position of Investigator for the Grays Harbor County Children’s Advocacy Center, where he investigated sexual and child abuse cases. He even appeared on the television show America’s Most Wanted to catch a predator on the run from Aberdeen — who they apprehended after the episode aired.

The only thing he was prouder of, above all else, were his children: Todd Bagley (45) and Kevin Bagley (43) from his marriage to Pam VanBlaricom; and Julie Bagley (36) and Deanna (Bagley) Niles (33) from his marriage to Theresa (McBride) Oleachea. Any time he would talk about his kids, he would light up and loved to brag about them. He would also light up any time his wife Judy (Hacker) Bagley would come around or even brought up in conversation. She truly is the love of his life, and she proved that in the last years of his life.

Mike had a stroke in 2007 that stole from him his career. It effected his short-term memory and critical thinking, which ultimately caused him to retire early from the Attorney General’s Office, where he was an investigator for elderly abuse. In 2017 he was diagnosed with dementia, and in 2018 he was moved into the community of Garden Courte. Garden Courte is an excellent community for those with memory loss. They not only told us fun things he was doing, but they knew his family members by name. There cannot be enough good things said about this community.

Mike passed away Oct. 26, 2020, from complications enhanced by COVID-19.

He was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Juanita Bagley. He is survived by his brother Jim Bagley of Puyallup, his sister Cheryl Mahler of Aberdeen, his wife Judy (Hacker) Bagley of Yelm, his son Todd Bagley of Victorville, California, son Kevin Bagley of Aberdeen, Washington, daughter Julie Bagley of Olympia, daughter Deanna Niles of Elma, step-son Kevin Jackey of Yelm, step-son David Jackey of Yelm, step-daughter Bridgette Franks of Portland, Oregon, nine grandchildren, and one great-grand child.

A service was held Nov. 24 for family and close friends. Since COVID restrictions are tight, a reception to celebrate Mike will be held in summer of 2021. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Grays Harbor Children’s Advocacy Center: Connections, 514 E. Broadway, Montesano, WA 98563.