Michael Gould Sr.

Anchorage resident Michael Shawn Gould Sr., 39, died May 8, 2010, in Anchorage.

A service will be at 3 p.m. Monday at Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory, 1800 Dare Ave., off Old Seward Highway, between Huffman and DeArmoun roads.

"Spooky," as nicknamed by best friends Scot McGee, Jason Eslick, Sean Meyn, Lawrence Reger and Charlie Amsden, was born Nov. 23, 1970, in Bellevue, Wash. Michael was raised by his father, George F. Gould, and in 1973 they moved to Fairbanks. After graduating from high school, Michael married his first wife and they had two children.

In 1995, Michael moved to Seattle, beginning his career as a funeral director. In 1998, he returned to Fairbanks, and married his second wife, adding two more children to his family. Michael continued working as a funeral director for several more years, then decided to pursue employment with the State of Alaska. Three years later, Michael and his wife moved their family of six to Anchorage, where both continued to work for the state and watched the two eldest children graduate from East High. The two youngest are currently attending high school, one in Anchorage and the other in Fairbanks.

His children describe him as a man desperately in need of a Star Wars intervention session; the force was not only with Michael, it had taken up residency.

Others have preceded Michael in death but as he was young, none of them were immediate family. We pray that his grandfather, George H. Gould, was there to greet him when he crossed over to begin the next leg of his journey.

Loved ones survived by Michael are daughter, Arianna Gould; son, Michael S. Gould Jr.; sons, Amadeus M. Gould and Sebastian D.L. Gould of Alaska; father, George Gould of Washington; and brother, Jeremiah Gould of New Mexico.

Everyone who knew Michael knows that in lieu of flowers he would prefer that donations be made in support of his children. This can be done at True North Federal Credit Union, account number 89237. Michael Gould's family would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to the warm staff of Anchorage Funeral Home & Crematory for making the arrangements and going above and beyond to comfort and assist in this very difficult time.