Dianne Gounaud (Harder)

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mikes passing. We were neighbors and friends and he will always have a special place in my heart. His sense of humor was infectious and that's something that I will hold dear . My sincere condolences to his family and may he rest in peace in the kingdom of heaven with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 🙏🙏

Joe E Brown

I’m writing this a little over 24 hour since Mike passed. I was waiting for my take out lunch when I received his daughter Brie’s text. I don’t show my emotions easily. Not proud of it, just is. But I had to turn to a wall and it was the longest couple minutes waiting for my food so I could just grab and shelter in my car with my overwhelming private grief. I have a 1 hour commute to work and I just played sad Sinatra songs all the way up. Kept replaying Cycles and One for my Baby. Was I wallowing..yeah. But in that hour, through my several choke ups, I was flooded with over 60 years of wonderful, special memories of my brother from another mother.

I arrived in Spokane the summer 1961 just before the start of my freshman year at Mead Jr HS. My neighbor was Dale Beardsley whose dad was grounds keeper at nearby Spokane CC. That contact led to being a caddy, $2.50/9 holes, $4 /18 holes. That’s where I met and caddied for  Mrs Farley(Millie). She said I just had to meet her son, Mike. So it began…

That summer, before the start of school we spent hours together. When we were driving around on his “Tote Gotes”(forerunner to ATV) I was, to use my Texas mother’s expression..”In hog heaven”. Never knew these things existed. His dad, Forest, was an engineer. I remember him being a rather quiet man, taciurn but always super nice to me. I loved his mom. She treated me like her son. I spent more than one night at his house, playing this dice game he loved(maybe because he could beat me every time) and talking about the upcoming freshman year and girls…and more girls. He loved “Man from Uncle” especially Robert Vaughn’s Napolean Solo.

I remember the look on Mike’s face the day he pitched and won against the BIg City Shadle Park HS. As I recall we were only 1 run up when he fielded a grounder and threw to me to get the last out on a runner coming from 3rd. Ironically, it was Jack Brenton who Mike and I had become great friends earlier in the year at Boys State. Mike’s fast ball rocked all day. Never seen him more ecstatic.

I headed to Cal in ’69 but we constantly stayed in touch. He came down for a Dental Conference sometime in the 70’s. I had 2 vehicles but was happy to give him my flashy red corvette to drive to his gig. The vette broke down 5 miles out of town. I raced to him with my back up car, a beat up 1964 VW bug. It was like squeezing Shrek into a phone booth.

Sometime in the 90s he asked me to join his frat brothers skiing in Tahoe. I tried to beg off as I took the sport up late and am intermediate at best while he is French certified but he wouldn’t give up. I ran out and bought a  cheap pair of ski boots to get me thru this “obligation”. The 2nd day Mike and I are at the top of Heavenly Valley after exiting the chair lift. Just before we take off, we both look down and see my cheap right boot has completely split wide open. Mike started laughing so hard I thought he’d shake apart. It took me a nano second longer to see the humor but we both died laughing. I must say though, I felt like Don Knotts standing next to Jean-Claude Killy.

I took Christy and my kids, Ryan and Jeff in 1993 to stay with the Farley Clan at his beautiful cabin on Skykomish River, I think, near Baring Mountain. I still remember donning the borrowed fishing gear and following Mike and his son Shane down to the river to cast for Steelhead. As usual, I was in the company of two flyfishing experts that proudly carried their rods like Warrior swords while I brought up the rear accompanied by guffaws of laughter from the Brown/Farley clan watching me waddle in unfamiliar hip high rubber boots, stumbling over every rock in the river. Mike later reveled in beating me at bocce ball, cards and darts. Mike’s wife, Cherie, her mother Connie, kids Brie and Shane made the trip extra special. Christy and my kids had a ball! Great memory.

About 11-12 years ago I told Mike we need to make an effort to see each other at least once a year. So we made a date every August to meet in Vegas. Brian Scott and Greg Cowen joined us the first couple of years. The 4 of us were in the hallway after a night of drinking and I challenged Brian(Mr track star) to race down the hall. I think I passed 2 doors while he flew past 10 doors in the same time. Oh, Joe, always chasing glory when glory thinks your an idiot. Mike loved BlackJack. I played slots. Mike was very serious about his BJ. I would frequently leave my machine to check on his luck. Invariably I would arrive as he was drawing another bust card. After about 5 unlucky trips of mine, he turned around and in a very brusque manner said, “Brownie, get lost”.

How much did I love this guy… when he first called me telling me about his cancer and how it was destroying his kidney, we had a very emotional  conversation and both hung up very dejected. I was disappointed in myself because I couldn’t and didn’t make an effort to lift his spirits which I’m usually pretty good at. It seemed too premature and phony to try a positive spin so early on when you’re grappling with the whole spectre of this horrifying, nebulous news and what it all means and fighting to avoid the unthinkable.  I sat long enough to come out of the inital gut punch shock and called him back. With a clear mind, I told MIke I woud give him one of my kidneys. I could tell he was getting very emotional as was I. I got him to laugh when I said the docs might have to wring it out a few times. He said he would get back to me when he knew more. We hung up and I felt good for being pro-active and hoping to contribute whatever I could to my best friend. The next emotion I felt was anxiety…how would Christy react to her husband well into his 70s  making such a monumental decision without even consulting her. I know I was prepared to follow thru with it but didn’t know how it would affect Christy. Some people could certainly make the case that the gesture, whlile thoughtful, was wholly selfish. I decided it was best to not needlessly upset Christy until I had to. Mike called back after a week or so and said the  the kidney offer was not necessary and my age made it less viable. I would be lying to say I wasn’t relieved. That’s how much I loved the guy.

Samantha was the 1st person I notified after Brie’s text. She’s been a dear friend to both Mike and me over years. She would text frequently inquiring about his health. Sam, I have to tell you that you have been a very Special gift to the class of ’65.

Early this morning I received a text from Brian Scott(Scotty). I asked him to call me. It goes without saying, he was hurting. He said he had a reunion coming up in a couple weeks. I asked about a few people in his class. When I asked about Bob Spears, he said he was having lunch with him today! Bob is still married to Sandy.

Can’t tell you how many times Mike bragged on his clan. Cher, Shane, Brie, brother Ron, grandkids Colton, Keenan. You all meant the world to him.

Years ago I read a book by Issac Asimov who was a well known science fiction author of over 400 books. Wrote on a lot of topics besides SF. One of his observations about death stayed with me. The complete picture of an individual, the essence of who you are and how you are viewed and perceived flaws and all, is fully captured in memory by everyone you have ever come in contact with. He called it a “Memory mosaic”,Individual tiles of shared memories. So he wrote, when someone dies, part of you dies as part of your Memory mosaic that defines you dies too. Buddy, you took a lot of my tiles with you and it just tells me how many special memories I was lucky enough to share with you. Thanks for a great ride.

PS. Sorry this was so long winded but I guess I needed to do it as much for me as Mike.

I have a lot of Class 0f ’65 “memory tiles”. My one wish, going forward for a long time, is to only be notifed by the Mead website of birthdays …just birthdays.

Mary E Jackson (Jackson-Lambert)

Mary E Jackson (Jackson-Lambert)

Richard F Abell

The saddest news ever-hard to imagine my world without Farley-the last 10 years we had so much fun sparring about the Husky's and the Cougs.  His Dawgs-he loved them-they normally beat the Cougs-always he rubbed it in-all good nature.  Lots of great memories at Mead-  condolences to his family -always my buddy

Clarice Little (McKenney)

Joe Brown's memories of his best friend, Mike Farley, was the most touching tribute I've read in years.

Like so many of my classmates, I had a silent crush on Mike in school. Since I was raised on the East

Coast, and I did not keep up with movies and such, I remember thinking young actor "Burt Reynolds" must

be Mike Farley's stage name. So glad I came around before our next reunion.

Anyway, my one and only contact with Mike came a few years ago when he took time by telephone

to answer my concerns about dental sleep therapies. We also discussed how medical treatments have

improved since we were teenagers.

Unlike the rest of my classmates, I only had the pleasure of knowing students at Mead during our senior

year. So I missed a great deal, but I'm very grateful to have spent many memories over the years

since we graduated with old friends who also graduated with us, like Judy

Haas McKeehan, Ellen Webb Franklin, Carol Muzeroll Austin and Sandy Stefan Roloff.

I know how close Judy has been to Mike and the rest of their group, so since she no longer has email to 

keep up with class news, I reluctantly called her to inform her of Mike's passing. She said, "I know." 

After a long silence, Judy bounced back and we had a fruitful conversation.

I have not seen Judy since her family moved her to Bonney Lake. Mike's passing has led to plans to

visit her soon.

With such wonderful friends as Joe and Judy, I know that Mike Farley realized how much he was

loved and will be missed.

Joe E Brown

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This was just sent to me by Mike's daughter, Brie. Joe

Samantha Gai Chamberlain (Kostelecky)

Another special friend gone way too soon.  I have to admit that I didn't know Mike well in high school, but became much closer after all our reunions.  He made clear his love of family, skiing and fly fishing, and friends - especially Joe.  They had a special relationship like Judy Goodell and I had.  I recently posted a picture of the fab five I used to call us (Greg Cowen, Mike, Joe, Judy and I) closing down another reunion and am very sad that there's on two of us left.  Mike sent me a video of him being honored at a Seahawks game for being a ticket holder with them for many many years.  It was quite touching.  I will miss our emails and times at reunions.  My thoughts and prayers go out to Cheryl and the rest of his family at this difficult time.

Mary E Jackson (Jackson-Lambert)