Michael Earl "Mike" PRESLEY

Michael Earl Presley, a longtime resident of Sammamish, WA, passed away on April 15th, 2024, at the age of 71. Born in Butte, Montana, to Margaret Mullen and CK Presley, Mike spent his childhood in Grand Junction, Colorado, and Las Vegas, Nevada, before settling in Washington State. The oldest of seven children, Mike ran away from first grade numerous times because he missed his best friend, his brother, Pat. He embraced the subjects he loved in school, particularly History, Political Science and English. Math and Science - not so much. He made numerous lifelong friends at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas and maintained close communication with many of them. He graduated from EWSC (now Eastern Washington University) in 1974, mainly because his dad told him he would end up working in the mines if he didn't go to college. His first job out of college... Working in a mine.

Mike's slight build (120 pounds soaking wet during his teen years) prevented him from achieving the brilliant sports career he dreamed of and made it impossible for him to drink others under the table… although he never grew tired of trying to play that game! The upside is that his low weight/height ratio made him ineligible for service in Vietnam. Mike enjoyed a lifetime successful career in sales, which led to his true passion, golf. His love affair with golf led to many, many friendships made on the course and in various men's clubs, at different Snoqualmie Valley courses. Although the quality of his golf game never equaled the quantity of years he played, scores were secondary to him compared to the social aspect of the game.

A true Irish raconteur, Mike was an extrovert who loved to "innocently" flirt with all women young and old. He was a unique individual whose eyes lit up when he greeted you and had a genuine gift of making people feel valued and appreciated while in his company. A sincere, kind and funny person, his exuberant spirit truly made him the life of any party. He excelled at telling and laughing at jokes, particularly if they were "double entendre".

Something should be said about Mike's relationship with "information technology". He loved the easy access to jokes, cartoons, political blogs, editorials, and general entertainment available on the internet. His inability to type meant that things were forwarded in a piecemeal way through the hunt and peck method, which meant that wildly inappropriate things often found themselves forwarded and misdirected. Despite a few embarrassing incidents, Mike's iPhone became an extension of his hand and he never tired of communicating nonstop via his phone. We all would give anything to hear that text or email notification from him again.

Mike met his future wife, Dede Giesa, in Spokane, WA, when the Presley family transplanted from Las Vegas in 1970. Their marriage in Bellevue, WA, in 1983 was the beginning of a 40-year partnership. They shared an intellectual love of reading, spirited conversation, many wonderful trips and especially the joy of laughter! Their commitment to their lifelong relationship had its basis in shared beliefs. They agreed love was not about finding the right person, but creating the right relationship - not about how much love you had in the beginning, but how much love you created until the end…. Many memories were made in their home on the Issaquah/Sammamish Plateau. There they welcomed their sons, Ethan in 1989, and Spencer in 1993. Being at home together was a shared "soft place to land", a place to be grounded and soothed during life's bumps in the road. His death is a great shock and a deep wound. The pain of his absence is immeasurable.

Everything Mike did, he did for his large and loving extended family and circle of friends. He was generous to a fault with his mother, his siblings, and whenever a friend was in need. A reluctant "oldest child", he grew into the role over the course of his lifetime. He had a tremendously large group of dear friends, many of them for 50 plus years, and all who knew him loved him like a brother.

He was preceded in death by his father, CK, and his sister, Janelle. He is survived by his devoted wife, Dede, his loving sons, Ethan and Spencer, his mother, Margaret, his siblings, Pat, Mary Beth, Greg, Jeff, and Rosaleen, his brother from a different mother, Ken Albrecht, numerous beloved in-laws, nieces and nephews (he always asked them to call him cousin Mike because he was "too young" to be Uncle Mike), and several great-nieces and nephews. He also maintained very close relationships with his Mullen first cousins, who loved him dearly.

Mike, with his Leo flair, exited this world in the "Year of the Dragon", at exactly 5 pm. Cocktail Hour! We think he was anticipating happy hour somewhere! Nothing would make him happier than a toast to his Memory.

A joyful Irish Wake will be held in Spokane, WA, on September 8, 2024. Please contact any Presley or Giesa family member, or Legacy.com for updated details. We expect the libations, stories and jokes to flow freely….