Obituary of Michael Don McCraley

Michael Don McCraley passed away on December 25, 2023, after valiantly fighting Parkinson’s disease since his diagnosis in 2002. He passed away at home with loved ones at his side.

He was born in Ogden, Utah, on June 28, 1945, to Helen Fae Brophy and Robert L. McCraley. His parents preceded him in death. Michael is survived by his sisters Karen (Blaine) Sylvester of Ogden, UT, and Sue (David) Lundberg and brother Phil (Sue) McCraley of Salt Lake City, UT.

Michael met Karen Lee Holt in Honolulu, Hawaii, and they married for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on a cold day, January 29, 1977.  He is survived by his daughter, Maile Ann (Norman) Box of Gilbert, AZ, and his son, Todd Michael (Natalie) McCraley of Colorado Springs, CO.

He was incredibly proud of his five grandchildren: Sofia and Ian McCraley, and Spencer, Aubree, and Trevor Box. He loved Karen who served him selflessly to the end.

Mike devoted much of his time to service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  His life was filled serving faithfully in callings such as Bishop of the Val Verda 3rd Ward, Bountiful, UT; Counselor in the Davenport, Iowa Stake Presidency; Stake Mission President in Bountiful and Ogden; High Counselor in Ogden and Iowa; Stake Executive Secretary in Bountiful, and as a CES Missionary in Colorado Springs, CO.

He was among the first graduating class from Skyline High School in Salt Lake City, UT.  He faithfully served as a full-time missionary for the Church in the Southern Australia Mission.  He then went on to graduate with a BS in Business Management from the University of Utah and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from BYU.  He spent his professional years as a Medical Clinic Administrator for various multi-specialty health clinics.

He loved all things racquet: tennis, racquetball, and pickleball.  His love of being active extended to water and snow skiing.  During most of his career, he hit the gym at 4:45 am every morning and even biked across Waikiki to his job with Kaiser. Mike enjoyed the time spent with family, friends, neighbors and ward members. Playtime was a must for him. Games were commonplace throughout his life.

He loved playing the trumpet and was the first chair in the opening season of the Mormon Youth Symphony.  His trumpet playing extended to his golden years, playing in Swing Masters and the New Horizons Band and playing “Happy Birthday” on his family members’ birthdays (a favorite family tradition). 

Mike’s legacy is that of quick wit and dry humor, honesty, integrity, extremely strong work ethics, worthily holding the priesthood with which he was ordained, and a love of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Any who knew him or had the privilege of meeting him were moved beyond words at how valiantly he battled his disease, all with an even temperament and no complaints! His example will resonate for eternity.