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Michael ( Mickey) Witherspoon
02/05/1942 — 02/14/2026
From Richland,WA | Born in Blythe, CA
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Michael ( Mickey) Witherspoon
Michael Edward Witherspoon, 84, passed quietly from this world on 2/14/26 surrounded by family & friends. He was born on 2/5/42 to Jack E Witherspoon and Madras Jackson Witherspoon in Blythe, CA and was raised in Lovington and Ruidoso, NM , Then he attended high school in Grants NM where he met and married Vicki Hackney in 1962, then attended NMSU in Las Cruces, NM earning his Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and soon welcomed the birth of their first son Kevin Michael.in 1964. They soon moved to Richland, WA for a job with Battelle NW engineering. Then they welcomed their second son Matthew Scott, and Mickey earned his MBA at UW and then a long career with various companies related to the Hanford Projects and ARCO Prudhoe Bay, and finally consulting over the course of 60 years.Mickey introduced his family to the wonders and beauty of the PNW, hiking, camping, mountain climbing, rafting, dirt bikes, and many memorable adventures that we will continue tell the stories forever.In 1982 Mickey remarried Terri Tyler, and they welcomed 4 children, Joshua, Kali, Chadwick, and Jonathan, raising them up in the outdoor adventures also.Mickey had a love of farming, acquiring a farm on the Snake River, converting it to apples and wine grapes, and operated for the last 55 years.His greatest loves were reading, history, mechanics, local and world travel and events, and was known for supporting many people in their legal immigration, charitable contributions and efforts locally, and mentoring young people that needed the chance to learn the value of hard work, and education, and more hard work.We will all miss you, Michael. Rest in eternal peace.
Mickey was not only my big brother he was very much a father figure to me since we were 12 years apart. He was so much my mentor all my life and I’ll forever be grateful for that and the adventures he provided for me and all of his kids in the beautiful PNW, coming from the Texas panhandle we were dazzled! I will miss his quick wit and his history lessons and his encyclopedic knowledge-you just couldn’t hardly stump him. Rest in peace my Brother Love you forever❤️Jackie
Mickey was our neighbor and we had many visits over the fence or on our patio while Panda played with our dogs. He was such a generous and caring person, always helping someone! We will miss his stories and visits.
Our condolences to the family.
Mickey holds a special place in our Family and in our hearts.
He played golf at Meadow Springs with my parent’s, worked with my mother at WPPSS, worked with my husband and had our son Sam work with him on the farm one summer while in college.
For me he was so much more than that. I was a little girl when I met him. I have never known anyone like Mickey – his intelligence, work ethic, love of life and all things in it, his faith, his sense of humor!!!!, kindness and straight talk always left me filled me with new thoughts, ideas, dreams and a unquestionable feeling of being loved.
He loved my children, like a God Father. He loved me like a Father especially after Dad passed.
His legacy is filled with contributions to people and the land of Washington State and I am forever grateful.
We were so happy when he and Nadine got together. What a joy that was to see. They were so comfortable with one another and we were glad he found such a lovely friend whom he could share the last season of his life with. Peace be with you Nadine.
I love you Mickey, thank you for being part of my life. It was grand.
Mickey, you were one of the most unique persons I have ever known! From meeting you in high school in Grants, NM, to seeing you graduate from. New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, NM, to moving to Richland, WA (where you told me “They have a river up there that runs every day!”—- quite a contrast to the Rio Grande we knew in NM, that usually has almost no water in it! Working at Battelle, Pacific Northwest Laboratory proved to be just the start of your many and varied career opportunities. Life i the Pacific Northwest brought many memories from camping trips; buying a cabin in Oregon, and many adventures. I will be eternally grateful to you for our sons Kevin and Matt.—the best gifts I ever received! Rest in Peace..
Mickey was one of my dearest friends. He was “one of a kind”… brilliant, funny, caring,kind, and thoughtful. He cared about his brothers and sisters on this planet, and the world is a dimmer place without him. I miss you every day Mick. Go high up on that mountain…
PK
Mickey, I will miss you always. We shared so many adventures and a love of the outdoors, agriculture, history, travel, great discussions and a good glass of wine (although I think you preferred a good Scotch)! You told me “It doesn’t matter WHERE you go in life, WHAT you do, or how much you HAVE, it’s WHO you have beside you”. So true, so true! You also said, “What do we live for if not to make life a little less difficult for each other.” And you lived by those words in helping so many along the way. Rest well after a life so well lived.
Love, Nadine
I worked with Mickey as his CPA on various of his farming and development activities over the last forty years. He was intelligent and perceptive , honest and ingenious. He had a marvelous sense of humor.
I enjoyed every time I got to meet with him. RIP good friend.
Mickey was a beautiful man whose passion for history, farming and mentoring came through in many many stories worth listening too. I miss you Mickey.
Guestbook for
Michael ( Mickey) Witherspoon