Michael G. Sanford, 62, a longtime Mount Vernon resident, passed away on Friday, January 15, 2010 at Skagit Valley Hospital in Mount Vernon.
Michael was born on June 6, 1947 in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of William & Carol Edwards Sanford. He made his home in Ohio until the family moved to Anacortes, Washington where he was raised and attended school.
After graduating from Anacortes High School Michael attended and graduated from Skagit Valley College with an Associates Degree in Psychology. He then attended and graduated from Central Washington University and then from Washington State University with a Masters in Political Science. Michael worked for many years as a manager for Whitney Fidalgo Seafood and then for Midway Distributing. For the past several years he has been a sales clerk at Home Depot in Burlington.
In his early years Michael had some alcohol issues and for the past 28 years has been faithfully attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, often attending 2 to 3 meetings a day around Skagit County. He kept meticulous records of his meetings attendance and in 2009 alone had attended over 800 meetings where he would just chat with or even council some of the attendees.
Michael is survived by his son, James Sanford Shelly of Sedro-Woolley, WA and his daughter, Tracy Fleck of Kalispell, MT. His step-children, Darla Landreth of Gold Bar, WA and Scott Johnson Melissa of Coupeville, WA. His nine grandchildren, Tyler, Tiara & Shawn Plummer, Faith & Emily Sanford, Cody & Kelsi Hodgin and Elliott & Stella Johnson and four great-grandchildren. His brother, Jack Sanford; two sisters, Diane Zieman and Joyce Stutts & her husband, John and two nieces, Sandy Zieman and Kathleen Stutts all of Maryland and good friends Jeff and Melody Lee, John and Charlene Guidinger and Harlan Smith. He was preceded in death by his mother, Carol Sanford and his father and step-mother, William & Gertrude Sanford.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 30, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley.
Michael was an important person in my life. I personally witnessed him help many people, and he was an inspiration to many more. I am glad that I had Michael in my life during the years that I knew him.