Michael’s Obituary “Can miles truly separate us from friends? If we want to be with someone we love, aren’t we already there? ” – Richard Bach Michael James Rasley, beloved father, grandfather, brother, son, friend, and warrior, passed away on January 7, 2019.
Mike was born in Ogden, Utah on October 10, 1946, to Sophie Jones Gillies and Kenneth Ray Rasley. He dearly loved his three siblings; Kathy Rasley, Randy Rasley, and Stacie Peterson. He married his high school sweetheart, Carol Hodson in Roy, Utah.
Together, they had four children; Tyler Michael Rasley, Lani Rasley Stockwell (Adam), Amy Rasley (Matthias Frank), and Ryan Earl Rasley (Kasi). He has 12 grandchildren, Lawson James Rasley, Macy Dee Augello, Michael Tyler Rasley (deceased), Matthew Delmar Rasley, Natalee Katelyn Rasley, Jaeden Elizabeth Rasley, Carver Ryan Rasley, Peyton Earl Rasley, Jax Bryant Rasley, Beau Brian Rasley, Ellie Grace Stockwell, and Maximilian Alfred Frank; and 2 great-grandchildren, Nash Mulliner, and Lucy Joyce Rasley. He also shared many years of marriage with Terri Kerscher, and Alma Delores Lemon (deceased).
In 1976, Mike graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Police Science from Weber State College. He loved law enforcement and was a trooper for the Utah Highway Patrol, thereafter working for the state narcotics task force. He was a long-time resident of Blackfoot, Idaho where he worked for Idaho State Hospital South as director of security for over 15 years.
Mike was a devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He carried his love of the scriptures with him all of his days. His “church briefcase” not only carried his cherished scriptures (color-coded, referenced and cross-referenced) but was home to his stash of lollipops, divvied out every Sunday to the ward children he knew, each by name.
Mike was a proud veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving honorably from 1963 to 1969. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal by the 3rd Marine Amphibious Force for wounds received in combat action in the Republic of Vietnam on August 24, 1967. Mike was a charismatic soul, quick to laugh, always charming and one of the greatest storytellers of all.
He had such a big heart-he would literally give a stranger the shirt off his back. Mike valued family and friends above all and did his best throughout all of his struggles in life to keep those relationships intact. He was a big fan of moose hugs and the mountains, an avid hunter and fisherman, and a proud, card-carrying member of the NRA.
The mountains brought him much solace and peace, a place he regularly took his beloved Rottweilers for fishing and walks. Dad, we will miss you and we know you are now in peace without struggles, loneliness and pain. We love you “up to the sky, down to the ground, round the world, round and round”.
A graveside service in memory of Mike will be held on Monday, January 14, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., at the Eden Meadow View Cemetery, 5315 E. 2200 N., Eden, UT. Interment to follow. Family is under the care of Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Ave, Blackfoot, ID.
Condolences may be shared with the family at: www. hawkerfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to a charity of choice, or to a local chapter of the Humane Society.
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