VANCOUVER, Wash. — Michael Jay Price, 49, of Vancouver, Washington, died undergoing a bone marrow and stem cell transplant at the University of Washington Center in conjunction with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, also in Seattle, Washington.
Michael was born in Pocatello, Idaho, on October S, 1951, at the old St. Anthony’s Hospital to Jay Dee Price and Wanda L. Cook Price. He went to grade schools in Pocatello until he was 9. When he was 7 and 8 years old he was on the Pocatello swim team and dived off the high platform board. He did a great job also. His family moved to Boise, Idaho in 1961. He went to South Junior High School and Borah High School.
In his younger years, Michael was very active in sports such as wrestling and football. Michael was a champion wrestler all four years of high school, winning many medals and other awards. He was a drummer in the South Orchestra and marching band and also at Borah High School. He loved music and the drums and was very good at it. He went on several dance jobs when he was 12, with his mother and her dance band.
He went to college for a time in Twin Falls at the College of Southern Idaho on a wrestling scholarship. He also went to Boise State as a history major. He went into the Army and spent two years in Germany. He met Vicky Hill and they were married November 1, 1980.
Michael joined a band and for two years played the drums professionally with a group called Stir Crazy. Their first baby, Aimee, was born on January 18, 1982, in Boise and Michelle, the second child, was born October 5, 1986. Angela, their third girl, was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on February 10, 1990.
They moved to Seattle, and Mike worked for the Burger King Corporation, and then he got the job with the Department of Veterans Affairs, working in the canteens at Veterans Hospitals in many cities. Each time they moved it was a career advancement. He worked for them for about 16 years at various hospitals in Portland, Ore., Milwaukee, Wis., Amarillo, Texas, Salt Lake City, Utah, Phoenix, Ariz., and then back to Portland. They built a home in Vancouver, Washington, where they reside at this time. He is loved and cherished by his family, and we will miss his companionship and sense of humor very much.
He is survived by his wife, Vicky; his three daughters, Aimee, 19, who is in the Navy in Pensacola, Florida, Michelle 15, and Angela, who is 11; his mother and stepfather, Wanda and Jerry Hetrick of Boise; brothers, David Price and his wife, Sharon of Star, Idaho, and three boys, Brian, Michael and Dennis, Scott and wife, Sharlene, and daughters Jennifer and Jessica of Kansas City, and Heather, of Thailan, and Andrew Price of Orofino, Idaho, and his children, Ricky and Tessa of Boise; a sister, of Boise, Tracy Verbanac and husband, Jeff, and their two daughters, Kelsey and Cortney; three stepbrothers, Randy Hetrick and his wife, Jeanie, and family, Emily, Hank and Luke of Caldwell, Brian Hetrick and son, David, of Pocatello, and Nick and his wife, Stephanie and two girls, Hailey and Shelby of King Salmon, Alaska; his wife’s parents, Faye and Les Hill of Boise, and Vicky’s two brothers and a sister. He has numerous uncles and aunts, cousins, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Jay, grandmother and grandfather, Stella and Jack Price, grandmother and grandfather, Viola and George Cook, and brother-in-law, Randv Hill.
Services are to be Friday, April 27, at 11 a.m. at the graveside at Dry Creek Cemetery, Bishop Paul Horstmeier conducting. Services are under the direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel, Boise. The family would like memorials sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 825 Eastlake Ave. E, Seattle, Washington 98109.