Michael James Green, 67
Michael James Green died at 67 of cancer March 12, 2019 at Hospice House in Coeur d’Alene Idaho.
Mike was born September 20, 1951, in Orofino, Idaho, the second son of Joe and Marie Green. He was reared in a loving family home on a farm in rural Fraser where the only four-letter word was 4-H. He was the youngest sibling among four who included Vicky, Steve and Wilma. Vicky’s tragic death in an auto accident in 1968 brought the surviving family closer together.
As a child, Mike worked on the farm and was active in 4-H. He earned a BA in journalism from the University of Idaho in 1973. He worked at several newspapers as a reporter and editor. He traveled extensively and taught English in Korea and Pakistan. He married Mary Mullan in 1974 in Moab, Utah. The union lasted five years with no children produced.
Mike wrote the following as his obituary:
I present my life in terms of a quiz. I will present 9 exemplary statements about my life, and the quiz is to spot the lie. One and only one is a lie.
1) I was salutatorian of Weippe High School in 1969, its last graduating class.
2) I lived in Wallace, Idaho, long enough to pay off a mortgage.
3) I was once the youngest editor of a daily newspaper in Idaho. And got fired because of my integrity.
4) I have stepped into 30 countries. And wrote about it.
5) I am a five-ball juggler.
6) I have only five toes.
7) I was once paralyzed from the waist down.
8) I was once engaged to a woman who didn’t speak English.
9) In the past four years, I produced and delivered to every home and business on Pine St. in Wallace, Idaho, 34 issues of a parody newspaper called the Pine St. Picayune.
The lie? No. 1. I was the valedictorian of my class.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Vicky.
He is survived by his brother Steve Green and wife Carol of Coeur d’Alene; his sister Wilma Green and husband Dick Shedd of Lewiston; his nephew Travis Green and wife Torri and their daughters Hadley and Amelia; his niece Trina Scott and husband Ryan and their daughters Grier and Finley; his niece Alycia Shedd; and his nephew Eric Shedd.
A celebration of life is scheduled for March 30 at 2:00 at the Elks in Wallace, Idaho. A celebration in Weippe will occur at Steve and Carol’s cabin on Memorial Day weekend with particulars to come later. His ashes will be buried at Fraser cemetery during the same weekend.
Memorials can be made to Weippe Hilltop Museum, P.O. Box 279, Weippe ID 83553. Wallace memorials may be made to the Flowers Project or to the swimming pool. Thanks to all Mike’s friends who have helped him through this difficult time.
“This is Mike your faithful correspondent signing off for the last time