Michael Ray Boetger

 July 20, 1955 - October 31, 2006

Born in Portland, Oregon to Joann and Donald Boetger, the first of three children, Mike grew up in the Rose City, attending Arleta Elementary School and graduating from Franklin High School in 1973. Mike was an avid reader, including all 134 novels by his favorite author Louis L'Amour. He attended Outdoor School and developed a keen interest in Pigeon keeping through friendship with a neighbor. Mike enjoyed bicycling, bowling, magic tricks, cards, karaoke, golf, hiking and was a friend to many, older and younger, always respectful and blessed with the gift of hospitality.

He attended Arleta Baptist Church and was a co-leader in the Baptist Youth Fellowship (BYF) Youth Group, enjoying camp retreats and Wednesday night volleyball games. He often organized holiday parties and other gatherings for the group.

After his parents divorced and his mother remarried, a step-brother and step-sister joined the family. He spent his time between the home of his mother and his grandparents home where he lived with his dad. After High School he worked full time as a civil servant for Portland Public Schools in the Custodial Services Department. After completing a shift one evening, he was passing time while waiting for a ride home by using the trampoline in the gym when he came down on his head and suffered a broken neck. He crawled using just his arms with a paralyzed torso and legs up a staircase to an office in the school where he was able to call for help. He was in circular traction for 12 weeks at Bess Kaiser Hospital in North Portland and in a wheelchair for a long recovery.

Mike was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer in the early 80's and underwent chemotherapy and radiation that resulted in full remission so he was able to continue working. He took a job at the Orcas Hotel at the San Juan Islands of Washington State. There he met his wife Kelly and adopted 2 children and became the owners of The Lower Tavern of Eastsound, Washington. He became known as "Magic" Mike and earned the title of 'unofficial Mayor of Eastsound'.

Always at Mike's side was Pepé, a ruddy brown mix of a few breeds of dog. To have Mike's friendship was a cherished privilege. We spent many hours together as students, friends and later roommates. We laughed together and cried together. We struggled with growing up, understanding life, making our way together and then apart. He came to see me on the day he drove down to Portland to tend to his dad's affairs after Don had died of liver and stomach cancer. We visited for a couple hours. It was the last time I saw Mike. We talked about the Lord, because I had come to know the love of God through Jesus. Mike was hurting from all the things that had happened in his life. His grandpa and grandma passing away, the divorce of his parents, his injury and illness, he thought God had abandoned him. He couldn't believe that God cared. I asked him why did he do all he did at Arleta Baptist. He said he just had a crush on a girl there and was doing it all to impress her. But the bible says that the Lord knows who are His, and if we are faithless, He remains faithful. If there was belief but it was trampled by the defeats of life, the Lord remains faithful and will never turn anyone away who calls on Him. Hope is believing in what is unseen.

I stumbled upon this news of his passing on the internet when I googled his name to see what he might be up to. There is a site where he talks about pigeons, one where he's mentioned in a softball game. I am so sad to hear he's gone, my best friend...