Michele Joanne Foley

On October 13, 2025, the sun, the moon, and the stars went out for the family and friends of Michele Foley.

Michele Joanne Foley (nee Taylor), was born on February 29, 1956, in Seattle, Washington to Margaret and Bill Taylor. A leap year baby, she was special from the moment she arrived. Over the next four years, she was joined by her siblings Graham, Kim, and Rob. Michele grew up in Seattle, celebrating holidays with her many cousins at her grandparents' house, and enjoying fishing trips to the cabin at Hoods Canal. Her fondest memories were of the four siblings' annual pilgrimage to Wales, to visit her mother's Welsh family. They spent many summers there, spoiled by grandparents, uncles and aunties, and learning to love everything Welsh.

After graduating from Foster High School in 1974, Michele embarked on an adventure to Alaska in 1976, where she would make lifelong friends and raise her family. She worked at Nordstrom and then Division of Social Services, where she met her best friend, Kathy Dietrich. Michele later worked at Division of Community and Regional Affairs, and then on to the Attorney General's office, where she became the office's beating heart, planner of parties, and general office counselor, alongside her regular duties as Office Manager. Michele took evening classes, and proudly graduated from UAF in 2003 with her associate's degree. After thirty years at the AG's office, she enjoyed nine days of retirement before beginning a new career as Grant Writer for the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Center, where over the years she secured millions of dollars in grants to help train Alaskans in the construction trades.

Michele discovered her true purpose in life with the arrival of her children, Andrew and Ali. She loved volunteering at their schools, being troopleader for Cub Scouts and Brownies, and taking on countless volunteer roles for the Midnight Sun Swim Team, and later, West Valley and Lathrop swim teams. Throughout their adult lives, Michele continued this steadfast love and support.

Michele was the best mother ever to live, and somehow, someway, she was an even better grandmother. Her love for her grandchildren, Atticus, Sloane and Fianna, knew no bounds. She immersed herself in life at Denali Elementary, volunteering in the classroom, setting up the Halloween Carnival or hosting a proper British tea party for the kindergarten class. She could always be found courtside at their basketball games, the most enthusiastic grandma in the stands. She was their biggest cheerleader in life.

Michele was vivacious and lived her life with unbridled passion and positivity. She was always the funnest and funniest person in any room. She loved summer bike rides and walks with her dogs. Michele had a quick wit and wicked sense of humor, and was a fierce Scrabble player, and Pictionary champion. She devoured books and enjoyed watching British TV shows. She loved to be in the kitchen, whether laboring over one of her legendary holiday dinners, baking a delectable dessert, or putting the kettle on for a nice cuppa. Michele loved to travel. Her favorite trips were to Kona, London, and Wales. She especially cherished getting to take her grandkids to Britain in July 2023 to experience all the places she visited as a child.

In April 2023, Michele was diagnosed with ALS. Throughout her battle, she carried herself with grace, determination, humor, and immense courage, never losing her wit, her warmth or her unwavering love for her family. It was important to her to use her journey to be an advocate for those living with ALS, and to help raise awareness about this horrifically cruel disease. Her daughter Ali was her ALS warrior, her loving companion, and her devoted caregiver. For this Michele's family and friends are eternally grateful.

To know Michele was to love her, and to be loved by her was the greatest thing ever. She made her mark through her kindness, generosity, and willingness to help anyone. The world will be a darker place without her, but her legacy of humor, kindness and love will outlive us all.

Michele is preceded in death by her mother, Margaret, and father, Bill; sister Kim; brother Rob; and Aunty Lynne.

She is survived by her beloved children Ali and Andrew; adored grandchildren Atticus, Sloane and Fianna; her brother Graham; her Welsh family Uncle Carl, Uncle Dave and Auntie Joyce, Nicola, Marc, Lee, Bridgette, Lorraine and their families; nieces and nephews Katie, Neil, Evan, Hilary, Suzy, Graham II, Krissy, William, Chelan, Meghan, Mackenzie and their spouses and children; her Alaska family Kathy and Brian, Tenya, Tim, Ryder, Jackson and Myles, Athena and Kalani, and Larry Kraus; sisters-in-law Sonia and Annie; many cousins and dear friends; and of course, her darling dogs Daisy, Paws, Pip and Bristol, and grand-dogs Poppie, Caru and Moe.

Friends and family are invited to join us in remembering Michele at a Celebration of Life on Saturday, November 8 at 3:00 pm at Birch Hill Rec Center, 101 Wilderness Drive.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in her name to Denali Elementary School, or contributions to Aurora Animal Hospital/Michele Foley Account for the continuing care of her beloved dogs.

We will love you forever.