So sorry to just now learn of this. It was always fun working with Michael on some of the books and articles he published, and visiting with him and Phyllis at the Sixteenth Century Society & Conference meetings.

Thanks Michael for having had the pleasure of knowing and working with you through the years. You took the pain out of the bill paying process.

My heartfelt condolences to the Walton family. Mike was my American brother, a man of unlimited kindness who helped a German girl to fulfil her dream of going to an American university. His family took me in, treated me as an additional child, and I will always be in his and their debt. 
I loved his wit, his leaning, his insatiable curiosity. I have so very many fond memories of him; not the least among these the Seder dinner my husband and I had with you on a visit to the States in the Nineties. 
He will be greatly missed. A few days ago I remembered that I needed to send my good wishes to him for Rosh Hashana and then was travelling for a few days and thought to rectify it later. How sobering that it is too late now. 
My best wishes to the family.
Sylvia Griffin, Berlin, Germany

Dear Walton Family, 
you have my deepest sympathy. Mike was very kind and open-hearted to me and I was really honored, when he called me sometimes "my dear friend". He always encouraged my research und was interested in my ideas. I will miss him and never forget his charming personality. As a German I may conclude with Rainer Maria Rilke:

Der Tod ist groß.
Wir sind die Seinen
lachenden Munds.
Wenn wir uns mitten im Leben meinen,
wagt er zu weinen
mitten in uns. 

My spontaneous translation:

Death is great.
We belong to Him
With a laughing mouth.
When we think we are amdist life,
He dares to weep
amidst ourself.

My dear friend Phyllis, What splendid memories I and my family have of you and Mike. Around books, food,the shop here in December and the too few times in Salt Lake. My sentiments echo every one written here. How often I thought of Mike and Phyllis as guarding one of my "safe places"-and that we could go there anytime. Sigh. We always wait for the right moment and sometimes we miss it forever. Our love and prayers to Mike`s family.Shamanism yenachem scheme b`soch she` ar avelai Tziyon vi` Yerushalayim.

Our dearest Phyllis and Family,
Our sincere sympathies are with you at this time.
We never believed Mike would go before Dee & I as he was always busy doing all the right things and never wavered.  We have cherished the times with Mike and you and you both will always be in our hearts.
Mike never spoke bad about anyone, but maybe giving some advise.  What a wonderful gift we were given in having Mike as a friend as a partner (and George) not only in selling boats, but as a partner in running one-day river trips on the Snake River in Jackson Hole.  It only took us all 3 hours to find an office to sell trips in Jackson Hole.
Mike will be missed, but he will always be around us in what he loved and stood for.
Our love to you, Phyllis and your  Family and may God comfort You All at this time.
Dee & Sue Holladay,
Holiday River Expeditions

Dear Phyllis,

I was thinking of Michael today before I knew of his death as I talked to one of my neighbors here in Oxford about her youth in an Orthodox home, and remembered your friendship over the years and our Shabbat dinner at your home with Michael and your son. All sweet experiences for us.
Michael's help to me both as a board member and when I was President of RMMRA are fond memories, and it was our joint effort under Charles Smith's direction that brought about the online journal that we all enjoy and that has ensured the RMMRA's long-term financial safety.

Sandy and I pray for your comfort in this difficult time for the family.

Love from Paul and Sandy Thomas, in Oxford UK until 1 October

Dear Phyllis --

We are thinking of you and trying to get used to the idea that that man so lively and so full of life and scholarly light is no longer with you and with us.  He will be so much missed.

Our deepest condolences to Phyllis, and we send prayers of sympathy and compassion to Mike's entire family during this difficult time.  So grateful that we were able to see you both in April at the RMMRA conference, but also so sad that that was the last time we could speak with him.  He had a profound influence on our lives, both for his mirth and friendliness, and for the seriousness with which he took the historian's craft.  We will always remember him as a mentor and friend.  Farewell, Mike, and thank you.

Dear Phyllis and family, 
I am so sorry to learn of your loss. 
I have many fond memories of Michael. When I think of him, I will always be grateful for having met him. A rare and wonderful person, as we say in my family.  
Michael was a compassionate senior colleague who was unflinchingly generous to those of us just starting in the field. He took the time to point out mistakes, but he did so discreetly and with the greatest of compassion. I remain in awe of his intellect, his productivity, and his kindness. I also appreciated his sense of humor, and I will forever cherish being considered smart enough to get the jokes (though sometimes I was not). 
With sincerest condolences, 
Alice Blackwell

Mike will be misses as a 40 year friend.  Always a pleasure to discuss any subject.

Michael was a guiding star during troubled times in the Salt Lake Jewish Community. He will be missed. May his family only know only peace and well being for this day forward. Shalom dear Friend. Eliyahu Ben Temma Bala

Our condolences to the family. We are sorry to be unable to be with you during shiva.  I have been in awe of all aspects of Mike 's life, knowledge, friendship, wit, humor and the happiness I felt just being with him  and family members on all too few occasions. His life has greatly impacted my thoughts and beliefs. I know the he will dwell in a very special place in the house of The Lord forever

I will always remember Michael's infectious personality, love of learning, and being a great member of the community.  His devotion to his family and community have left indelible marks on both.  Our thoughts and prayers will be with his family.  I learned so much from being involved with your family and experiencing the journey you all took together when you arrived in the Jewish community.  I always felt welcomed and your hospitatlity was always appreciated.  Michael's memory will be a blessing!

I never knew what we would discuss the times I've been at your shop, but it was always enlightening to me and so many others. My condolences.

Mr. Walton holds a special place in my heart.  Our friendship started when I made my first Mercury Visit to his dealership and him and Phyllis welcomed me into their home for a delicous meal.  After that I was hooked - the Walton family now became part of my family! Mr. Walton delivered his charm every time we spoke and always left a little wisdome behind.  I will cheerish my memories of him forever...... A hug goes out to his family.  Your friend forever - Pam Barr

My deepest condolences to Mike's family.  Our conversations of rivers, religion and education were wonderful and I will always cherish them.

I was shocked and grieved to learn of Mike's sudden passing. Mike was graced with a keen mind, great wit, and thoroughgoing generosity of spirit. He was widely learned and insatiably curious. He was a kind academic uncle to me, and one that looked in on me more often than the biological kind. Now that he has been so suddenly ripped from our lives, the world seems much diminished in spirit. Mike would not accept this pessimism on my part, however, and would pick us up with some gem of wisdom from Maimonides or Plotinus. He never lost his sense of wonder; his ability to contribute to scholarship while still kindling the philosophical and spiritual riches of the past is part of his enduring legacy. My thoughts are with you Phyllis and family.  
 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will lodge in the shadow of the Almighty.

With great sadness we  say goodbye to Michael. We have enjoyed his wisdom and wit throughout our years. Michael always gave us interesting thoughts that we could ponder for many days to come. We will miss his joy, his humor and his presence in our Jewish community. We are so sorry, Phyllis. Michael and I wish you and your family the very best in the future. We regret we have been traveling and just read our email. We would have liked to have attended his funeral. Our thoughts and love are with all of you. Love, Suzanne Tornquist and Michael Fletcher

We were shocked and saddened to hear of such a great loss in this world.  Michael was always very kind and generous.  He was also very giving to our children.  May he ascend to the highest of places.

I have never published condolences, I either wrote it by hand, straight from the heart, or said it. Michael was a man of personality, integrity and humor. Meeting him with his son, Nathan, on a JCC Junior Jazz basketball practice, was an experience, a 'chavaya'(Hebrew). Be strong, Walton family, it requires great powers to say an eternal goodbye to such a mench.

My deepest condolances to your family. Mike has been my friend and mentor for about 25 years. His advise started with rafting gear, and progressed to many enjoyable discussions over politics and religion. No one in the  community has given me more love and support than he and Phyllis since my conversion to Judism a dozen years ago. Mike will be sorely missed.

Michael:  My deepest condolences to your family. I will miss you, my youngest brother.

I've known Michael since we were graduate students together.  I always was impressed by his being both a  brilliant polymath and warm and generous person.  We kept in touch only occasionally, but those were special times.  How wonderful that over the past few months we reconnected, and how sad to now lose that.  Heartfelt condolences to his family and all those he touched. His memory is indeed a blessing.

Mike was my friend as well as a colleague.  He personified the scholar who was also in the world, and was a model for me and others.  Sometimes he would just call from out of the blue and my own day would be brighter.  My deepest sympathy to Phyllis and family.  I will miss Mike very much and he will be always in my thoughts.

Bruce Moran, Reno NV

I'm saddened and shocked at Michael's passing.  He was one of a kind; generous, sharing, witty and will be greatly missed.  My sympathies to his beloved family.  Rebecca Fleischman and Family

My prayers are for him.  His son Adam is my cousin and close friend.  Very sorry for your loss...

so sorry to learn about this; mike was such a gentle, sweet, intelligent man.  it was indeed a 
pleasure to work with him in providing our needs in the outdoor recreation industry for so many years.
god bless his family...

My sincerest condolences to Phyllis and Mike's family at this difficult time.  I will always cherish my time with Mike, for he was a wonderful mentor and teacher, a tremendous scholar, and dear friend.  I am so grateful I got to know him, to study Hebrew with him, to discuss life's joys and challenges with him.  I was always astounded by the depth of his generosity, such as his sacrificial giving of countless hours to teach me, and to happily offer his words and advice.  I know he helped many, many people.  The time we spent together, along with his expressions of affirmation and encouragement, have impacted my life profoundly.  His jokes, witty remarks, and words of wisdom resound in my head daily, and always bring smiles.  I leaned on him heavily the past few years, at both the scholarly and personal levels, and he always knew just what to do or say.  I cherish all the times we spoke, and am grateful to have been invited into his life and home.  I love Mike very much, and will miss him dearly.  But how wonderful the journey has been.

I will always remember Michael and his quick wit, his great intelligence, and the fun in the family living room, which was always open to all the kids who ever wanted to pile in, watch a movie, or just hang out.  The story of your family's trek to Judaism and the tremendous integrity and depth of inquiry that accompanied you all on that journey have always inspired me in my own life. Michael, you had courage, intelligence, depth, and chutzpa! The world has lost a special, special man. May you all receive the gentle comfort that only God can provide.  Min hashamayim tenuchamu.  Love, Roni

I was blessed to have had one, single, momentous, personal encounter with Mike-- a long distance call from Trinidad, merely 10 days ago. He challenged, encouraged, and instructed me all at once; on life, Hebrew and other matters. His manner was direct but jovial; causing me to laugh repeatedly as his witty wisdom soaked in. I will be eternally grateful to God and Dr. Dane Daniel for making our brief but phenomenally life altering encounter possible... My deepest condolences to the biological and spiritual Walton family...

I will miss Michael. He touched my heart and soul in so many ways. He was the best father and/or brother I have every had.
My condolences to his family.

Uncle Mike always treated me like an adult, even when I was 8 and was overflowing with questions about all the amazing books he had.

I always learned the most obscure and fascinating things from Uncle Mike. I will miss trying to keep up with his wit.

Mike had one if the most astonishing intellects I have come across. Visiting his shop was like opening an encyclopedia and I never had any idea where our conversations were heading. A remarkable man. Our deep condolences to his family.

Goodbye, Friend Michael. Like so many others I was in awe of your sharp mind and special wit. Your candle burned with a special light, a righteous light before the L..d.

Mike will be greatly missed. His teaching and kind patience is my most fond memory of him. A true ambassador of yiddishkeit, his passing is a loss to those whose lives he touched.

We are very sorry to hear about Michael.  We will cherish memories of our light-hearted and erudite conversations.  Always with a smile, with a "come-back", with a challenge - we will miss his amazing presence in the Salt Lake Jewish community.  Lisa and David Kieda

I first met Mike because he was the Best Mercury Outboard Motor guy in the West !
I had many in depth conversations in his office at Walton Marine on Mormonism and Judaism....he made having to have your boat worked on and paying for it a real pleasure ! 
I will miss Mike,  I am a better man for his acceptance of me!

Hamakom yenachem etchem b'toch she'ar avelai Tziyon Vi'yerushalayim.

Sorry for you loss, I remember Mike from our neighborhood and coming to or store "Frames Market" just two or three houses down the street.

On my first trip to Salt Lake City, my family and I had the wonderful experience of having the first Seder with the Walton family. Michael was a special person. He will be greatly missed. So many of us have been touched by his presence. Our condolences to the Walton family on the loss of Michael.

Mike was a wonderful and generous man. His passing is a huge loss for all who knew and loved him.

OBITUARY

Michael T Walton

13 February, 1945 – 23 August, 2013

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