Michael J. McDonough

Michael Joseph McDonough died on Monday, June 20, 2011 at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City, MI. He was born on Dec. 24, 1938 in Chicago, IL, the son of Joseph and Loretta (Doyle) McDonough. Mike grew up at Indian Lake near Dowagiac and after graduating from Dowagiac Central High School in 1957, he served in the United States Navy stationed at San Diego, CA and on the island of Guam.

Following his service in the Navy he was employed as a photographer for the daily newspaper in Santa Monica, CA., covering everything from wild fires in the mountains to presidents and dignitaries arriving at LAX to the Academy Awards. In 1963 he received an Honorable Mention Award for Sports Photography from the Associated Press. After moving back to Michigan in 1966, he worked for several years as a professional photographer and later in the fruit tree industry at Hilltop Nurseries in Hartford, MI. He moved to Willcox, Arizona in 1988 and moved back to Michigan permanently in 2005, first to Dowagiac then to Traverse City.

Mike loved photography, nature and animals. He was a real people person, enjoyed getting together with family and friends and meeting new people. He loved a great joke and just shooting the breeze. He also had a profound fondness for breakfast, sweets and peanut butter.

Mike is survived by his children, Shana (Barton) Wartner of Portage, MI, and Matthew (Ann) McDonough of Traverse City, MI; his grandchildren, Sydney Wartner, Samuel McDonough and Abigail McDonough, a niece and nephews, and many long-time friends including Eldean McDonough-Daly. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, James.

A memorial celebration for family and friends will be held at The Rosevelt residence, 59204 Territorial Road, Decatur, MI 49045, at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, 2011.

Memorials may be sent to:

Animal Service League

P.O. Box 185

Dowagiac, MI 49047

or

Stanford University

Please write "donation to be used for Narcolepsy research" in the memo line

Mail to:

Gift Processing

Sleep Center Administration

1050 Arastradero, Building A, Lab A258

Palo Alto, CA 94304

Arrangements have been entrusted to Covell Funeral Home in Traverse City.

Condolences and fond memories may be offered at www.CovellFuneralHomes.com.