Michael Ray O’Hara was born on March 22, 1949 to Raymond O’Hara and Margaret (Wilson) O’Hara, in Spokane, Washington. He passed away in Yuma, Arizona on January 21, 2017 of natural causes.
In his younger years, he lived in California and Alaska, then returned to Spokane where he graduated from North Central High School.
After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Marines and served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969, and was an Infantry Squad Leader in the Reinforced Rifle Team. Once being released from active duty, he returned to Spokane and attended Eastern Washington University.
His professional history includes being a Transmission Line Construction Inspector at the time that he met Cheryl. They ended up becoming best friends, falling in love, and getting married on May 29, 1982. He became an instant father to her two kids, Michael and Elaine.
Since his Transmission Line Construction job required so much traveling, he started his career with the U.S. Postal Service in 1985, where he worked until he retired in 2009. Cheryl then retired in 2015 and they spent two winters in Yuma, Arizona where they enjoyed the warm weather and their retirement.
Michael is preceded in death by his father, Raymond O’Hara. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; step-son, Michael Oglesbee and wife Melyssa, and grandsons, Isaiah and William; step-daughter, Elaine Buchholz and husband Jayson; granddaughter, Addysen; mother Margaret O’Hara; sister Patricia Jackson and husband, Leland; and many nieces and nephews.
Until we meet again, remember I love you now and always, your wife forever, Cheryl.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at the Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel. The committal service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery. A reception will follow at the First Baptist Church, 607 N. 13th St, Boise, ID 83702.
1949 – 2017