Michael Sheridan Sears

Michael Sheridan Sears arrived in this world in the middle of World War II and promptly spent the rest of his life advocating for peace, curiosity, and love. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, the eldest son of Robert William Sears and Iola Mae Graves, Michael entered a world of motion and uncertainty-fitting, as he never stopped moving, questioning, or exploring.

Raised on a farm in Burlington Junction, MO and later in the Kansas City, KS area, Michael grew up close to the land with solid Midwestern values. He was smart, athletic, and expressive. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1961, he studied speech and drama at Baker University, played varsity baseball and basketball, and graduated in 1965. He later began a master's degree at Northwest Missouri State University-but the straight line was never really his thing.

In true 1960s fashion, Michael chose experience over convention. With his first wife, Janet Francis, he joined the newly formed U.S. Peace Corps, where he coached a Panamanian basketball team all the way to a national championship-an early reflection of his ability to lead, inspire, and mentor.

After returning stateside, his only daughter, Kelly Francis Sears, was born in 1969, whom he loved and cherished endlessly. Though he returned briefly to formal studies in Human Relations, the pull of lived experience remained strong. Michael hitchhiked across the country, lived in intentional communities, worked construction, and followed curiosity wherever it led. Eventually settling in California, he became a San Francisco street artist, crafting intricately carved candles, trading goods, and later filling street fairs with joyful rainbow streamers. Life was art. Art was community.

And always-always-there was the music.

Michael was a true Deadhead. Not just a fan of the Grateful Dead, but a believer in the philosophy: trust the jam, follow the flow, listen deeply, and know the journey matters more than the destination. He understood that no two shows-or people-are the same, and that joy and sorrow, light and shadow, all belong in the same song. This wasn't a hobby; it was a way of living.

Eventually, Michael migrated north to Portland, Oregon, where he became "Doc Bones", earning his Doctor of Chiropractic from the University of Western States in 1983. He healed with humor, patience, and presence, always listening first. He also created Resting Postures Yoga, gathering a devoted following who found restoration not just in their bodies, but in their spirits.

Michael shared life with his kindred spirit, Leslie Kroft, whom he married in 1983. Together they built a life full of music, faith, food, festivals, and friends. A devoted stepfather to Josh Morrison and Shahn Hughes and a deeply joyful grandfather to five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Michael loved creating art, curating meaningful experiences, and simply being present. Being "Grampa" suited him perfectly.

A lifelong spiritual seeker and member of the Bahá'í Faith, Michael practiced meditation, yoga, reading, and reflection daily. He filled journals throughout his life with personal insights and the wisdom of his spiritual mentors. He believed consciousness was bigger than form, people were inherently good, and love was the point. He lived raw, unfiltered, multidimensional-always zoomed out to the big picture.

Music, gatherings, and celebrations fed his soul-especially nights around the campfire in the redwoods, on Ocra Island, or on the beach with family and friends, where community and rhythm became something sacred.

Michael lived by a few simple truths. As he liked to say:

"Light and love to all, which is our human inheritance."

And as he believed:

The lights are always there-it's how you look at them.

Michael didn't just listen to the music.
He danced with it, trusted it, and lived inside the groove.

And yeah-
Michael Sheridan Sears was cool.