Michael John Douglas

 Michael John Douglas entered this world like a ball of fire, ready to do anything and everything, on September 23rd, 1973. On a bright September day, just as Michael was ready to enter this world, dark clouds filled the sky, and gale-force winds encompassed the old Hailey hospital where Blaine Manor sat. Just then, this spectacular person emerged, ready to get into trouble. Coming and leaving in the same fashion, he left us unexpectedly on the morning of June 7th, 2024.

  Born to his mother Susan Pavine Douglas and Michael James Douglas, Michael’s life started with adversity. Due to birth complications, Michael had the disability of Cerebral Palsy, which caused his legs to be paralyzed and him to be bound to a wheelchair later in life. While Michael's upper body was able to move, his loss of mobility increased over the years. As a curious child if Michael wanted to be somewhere he would get there whether there was a helping hand to be given to get him where he wanted. When Michael was 3 years old, Susan welcomed a daughter named Brenda, who would later become his best friend for life.

  At the start of Michael’s life, he lived with his mother. Once she separated from his father, Michael moved to many states as his mother pursued her job as a medical laboratory technician. Some of the places Michael called home were Grand Junction, Colorado, and Winnemucca, Nevada. After turning twelve, Michael's sister decided to move in with their dad to Idaho full-time. As his mother's job demanded more commitment and Michael's care needs increased, he also moved in 1995 to live with his father, reuniting with his sister frequently during breaks.

  While their father had a job that allowed him to care for the kids better than their mother, living in the Wood River Valley was amazing for Michael. He explored and enjoyed many of Idaho's stunning scenic views. There was nothing that could limit Michael from traveling in his van, riding in his dad’s pickup truck (both front and back, in case you were wondering), or being his little sister’s sidekick. Any vehicle meant an opportunity for Michael’s next adventure. During this time, Michael gained a stepmom Ann, and two stepsisters, Sonya, and Sara, which added more excitement and thrills to their adventures. If there was a story to tell, Michael had a part in it.

  Some of the best memories recalled are when his sisters were in the back of the pickup truck crossing over the Snake River Twin Falls bridge, and Michael could be seen laughing as he and Sonya teased Brenda about pushing her off the bridge. Another memorable moment was when Michael, staying at Grandma Sue's house, caught Brenda and his grandma trying to sneak out without his knowledge (even though he slept in the living room), and Michael's famous sailor mouth came out to let them know they had been busted. In our family photo albums, Michael was the star of all the photos, and looking at them, you could almost hear the stories they told.

 As Michael continued to grow, he was always the helping hand in the family, someone you could always count on. In 2000, Brenda had a daughter named Vanessa, followed by Gabriel in 2004, and from then on, Uncle Mikey became his new name, a title that never changed. Although not particularly fond of kids, Michael could be seen helping his sister with her small daycare for her friends, and they loved getting into mischief together.

 After this period of joy and happiness, Michael faced tragic moments. First, his grandma Sue passed away in 2007, followed by his father in 2011. Despite these losses, he maintained a dedicated support system but lost some of his biggest supporters. It was during this period of loss that his bonds with his sister Brenda and stepmom Ann grew stronger as they took on larger caregiving roles for him. During this time, he continued to help with childcare while adding more hobbies to his routine.

 Around this time, Michael started attending programs with Higher Ground, where he went on many field trips to lakes, worked out at the community campus, played bocce at Hop Porter Park, and went on overnight camping trips. During winters, he enjoyed sit-skiing down Dollar Mountain with his favorite Higher Ground counselor Mose. Michael flourished in this program, gaining independence from his loving family. Another program he cherished was riding horses at Swiftsure Ranch and later walking and grooming horses. He loved caring for his horse alongside his helpers Mark and Robert. His most recent horse, Patches, became a regular part of his weekly schedule, alongside refueling his van and picking up the mail. Another Task of his was his Weekly Therapy appointments with John and Gloria. He will still miss the mini tennis ball as a torture device to start his week. Another thing Michael loved to do was attend church at St Charles on Sunday mornings.

 With such a busy schedule, Michael could often be seen with a smile from ear to ear or heard laughing, echoing through the rooms he occupied. He also could be seen blowing kisses and asking if you would like a hug if there was a pause in the activity he was doing. The conversation he would engage in with family always filled the rooms with noise even if the conversation was crass with his lovely vocabulary, nevertheless, the background noise is forever better than the silence. The passing of his sister Brenda in 2020 was a significant blow, but Michael’s strength and the support from his stepfamily and his niece and nephew helped him recover. 

 Michael’s final loss was his mother at the end of 2022. After this period, Michael's enthusiasm for new adventures grew, and he was able to purchase a new van for his travels. As life continued, Michael became Gabe's partner in crime, doing everything and anything together and getting into crazy shenanigans in his van around town. It was Michael’s daily job to be an operation manager and to keep everyone on task, remembering To-do lists for the day, and holding things with his tray and the family’s many shopping bags. Routine was something Michael had pride in and many tasks within his weeks were something that brought joy to his day. It cannot go without mentioning his favorite shows were The News with Lying Larry, and Tricky Ricky as well as The Price Is Right, Let Make A Deal, and Wheel Of Fortune at Night. With so many adventures planned, Michael left us unexpectedly but gained enormous angel wings and was greeted by many of his loved ones in heaven. A massive celebration was held for him that day up in heaven.

 He is survived by his stepmom Ann, his niece and nephew Nessa and Gabe, Uncle Bill (and children), Aunt Bunny (Bob and children), Aunt Lee (Edand children), his sisters Sonya (Skippy and children), Sara, and her children Marcos, Lili, and Lucas, his cousin Dustin (Emily) and their children Charlotte and Wyatt, and many more friends, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

 He is preceded in death by his father, Michael James, his mother Susan Douglas, his grandmother Susan Kobe (Sue-Sue), his sister Brenda Douglas, maternal grandparents Ma and Pa, Uncle Matt (Cocklebur), Aunt Rose, Aunt Katie, Aunt Cis, Aunt Terry, Aunt Ellen, and Aunt Meg.

 Under the direction of the Wood River Chapel, there will be a Rosary on July 12th at 7 PM and a funeral the following day, July 13th, at 11 AM at St. Charles Catholic Church in Hailey Idaho. Michael will be buried next to his sister later that day in the Douglas Cemetery corner of the Hailey Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial at St. Charles Catholic Church Hall. A massive thank you to all who have sent their condolences; this has helped the family cope with the missing spot in their lives.