Obituary of Michael John Richardson

Michael John Richardson, age 67, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, June 16, 2019 at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, WA, surrounded by his family.

He was born on June 4, 1952 in Vancouver, WA to the late Dorothy and Gilbert Richardson.  On June 25, 1977, he united in marriage to Jeannie Lorraine LeDoux in Tacoma, WA and they spent most of the next 42 years together in Tacoma raising their two children and enjoying their grandsons.

Michael served in the U.S. Army from June 1969 to January 1972.  He was a hard worker and spent most of his working years in the logging and trucking industry as a choker setter, diesel mechanic, and millwright, spending 20+ years as a millwright at Portac in Tacoma.

Michael was a kindhearted soul, always willing to lend a hand.  He loved hunting, fishing, and clam digging in his younger years.  He could always be found tinkering in his garage on some old car or treasure he found at a garage sale. He loved when his friends and family would drop by, his face would light up with an infectious smile that went from his mouth to his eyes. He loved to sit back and have a cigarette, an Old Milwaukee’s Best beer, and reminisce about the good ol’ times.  He will always be remembered by his friends and family for having the best bombs on the 4th of July, acetylene and garbage bags.  He was kind of like a cat, he had at least nine lives, surviving a few of his homemade fireworks going off a little too soon, and some minor, or not so minor, mishaps with electricity.

Michael is survived by his wife, Jeannie; children Brandy Richardson and Bradley Richardson; grandsons Brandon and Austin; siblings Gilbert Richardson, Jr. (Debbie), Shelton; Mary Beavers (Jerry), Aberdeen; Betty Blumberg (Albert), Shelton; Beverly Boyd, Rochester; and a multitude of extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Gilbert Richardson, Sr.; brothers Charles Burton and Joseph Patrick Richardson; and sister Kathy Goan.  

A Celebration of Life will be held at his home at 9006 Portland Avenue East, Tacoma, WA on Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 2:00.

In lieu of flowers, please come to his Celebration of Life and share a Milwaukee’s Best Beer, a bite to eat, and a memory with his family and friends, sitting around the fire.  If you want to send something, send a plant or tree that his family can plant in his honor.  This is what Michael would have loved.