He graduated from South Bend High School in 1966 and went on to serve in the United States Army during the Vietnam War; where he was awarded with three Bronze Service Stars. Mike was Honorably Discharged and returned to South Bend. He married Margaret Lorton July 14, 1986 in Astoria, Oregon; she survives him at the family home in South Bend. He worked in the canneries, oyster beds, and was a dredge operator. Mike also worked for Grays River Logging from 1976-1988.
Michael attended Faith Tabernacle of Bay Center, and was baptized at Johnson Beach.
Mike had the ability to fix anything that could be fixed, whether it is electrical, automotive, and especially falling down houses – two of them ours!
A brother, John Payne, of Raymond, and a sister, Jeri Bravos, of Aberdeen, survive him. Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins also survive him.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 30, at the First Baptist Church in South Bend. Memorials may be made to the Raymond Ambulance Fund 212 Commercial Street, Raymond, WA 98577.
Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond.