Michael Dean Stowell

Mike, his mom Ruby, dad Bill, and sister Patti lived mostly in California as Mike was growing up. Home life included lots of board games and weekend drives with a packed ice chest to find wild asparagus, frogs, and fish for dinner. It was these early experiences that fostered his love for the outdoors, especially fishing. When their house was at the front of a grape vineyard, Mike could be found cooling off in the irrigation channel as the cold water splashed out making its way to the crops.

Extended family was very close. The Stowell grandparents had a backyard swingset and an adorable dog, Tinkerbelle, that Mike and Patti enjoyed for many hours. Grandmother made the best tuna sandwiches. Grandma Thomas’ house was the hub of family activity and a safe haven when parents were at work. Grandma played no favorites that you would know of and often mixed up dirty eggs (scrambled eggs cooked in a pan after sausage) and fresh squeezed orange juice if you were lucky to be there for breakfast. Cousins, aunts, and uncles were often at Grandma Thomas’ house and strong friendships were formed based on play and shenanigans often leading to boisterous laughter. Tables and chairs were added until everyone fit in. Cousins were more like extended brothers and sisters and the elder siblings, Mike’s aunts and uncles, often quietly but generously helped each other as needed. Occasional trips to amusement parks such as Knotts, Disneyland, and Sea World were mostly taken with this extended family.

Mike’s journey to become an accomplished actor began in middle school with the production of Scrooge. Throughout his teens he attended Santa Ana High School where he was again found in the theatre in such productions as the Wizard of Oz, Teahouse of the August Moon and South Pacific. His role in South Pacific as Stewpot evolved into a life-long nickname granted by many of his friends. Mike graduated early from high school, moving over to Santa Ana College where he performed in Playboy of the Western World. He went on to seek acting roles and landed a job as performer in a Christian acting company, Covenant Players. Mike traveled with the group across multiple states.

In middle school Mike formed friendships that lasted through his life, collecting more in high school. In one case he bonded with a fellow middle schooler and went on to share many fishing adventures, partying, and celebration at the birth of the friend’s children. He was a godfather to one of them. Friendships were formed around the high school church group at First Baptist of Santa Ana, extending to evening music around a fire, church away camps, and beach trips. The group of friends added evening youth services at Calvary Chapel. These friendships were carried with him as a gift to his last days.

Though Mike tried out varied careers after returning from Covenant Players (bar tender, mixologist, retail specialist etc.), perhaps one of longest duration and greatest joy was his job with Orange County Parks as a park maintenance worker. His assignment started at Yorba Regional Park, close to his mom’s home. This site was enjoyable owing to the fishing lakes and trees running adjacent to the Santa Ana River. His time at the Yorba Cemetery and the historic George Key Ranch, a historic ranch and Victorian ranch house, were his most memorable assignments. Aside from caring for these historic locations he savored providing tours and sharing his talents in character acting. He enjoyed telling the stories and accounts of spirit sightings and close encounters. When family visited an extended tour was memorable for all. He also enjoyed the set-up for special events at the ranch such as weddings. At one time he built a birdhouse type box for the ranch, something Bill also enjoyed doing. The box was placed along the Verse Garden, a pathway to the south of the home. The Yorba Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in the county, on land originally part of Bernardo Yorba’s ranch.

Mike’s parents’ marriage ended and both found new partners, bringing stepbrothers and sisters into the family mix. Mike is fondly remembered by his stepsister Roberta, who shared that Mike had a quiet calm about him that made her feel the same. Mike discovered her at a park he was working at well after dark with friends, provided a caring brotherly bit of advice but never told on her. Both sets of parents preceded Mike in death.

Mike and his first wife enjoyed collecting and reselling antique glass for a time, but more so the trips to the Sierras where they hiked, fished, and sang around a campfire. Denice recalls buying a live Christmas tree one year and carrying it down the street to their home in Santa Ana. Though their marriage ended they recently mended fences which was a blessing to them both. Photos of their many outdoor adventures remain among Mike’s treasured belongings.

Mike met his second wife, Sherry, while living in Corona with his mom and family for a period of time. They forged a close friendship sharing Bingo, camping and fishing. Sometimes they were like oil and water, especially in their later years. Sherry preceded Mike in death in 2021 and she still held Mike’s heart on her passing.

After retirement from the parks Mike continued to fish, travel, and spend time with family and friends in many adventures. He loved traveling to the area around Bishop to fish and camp. It was this area that he most longed to return to as illness took over his days. Road trips to see national parks, visit relatives out of state, and stop at trading posts across Arizona were taken alone and with family. His prized possessions involved fishing gear. He had a straw hat for shade, now battered and full of holes left behind.

Mike found companionship and support from neighbors in his mobile home park which were a blessing to him, friends and family. His battle with kidney disease did not deter him from learning more of relatives including a half-brother central to the early Calvary Chapel, sharing filmed conversations about the beginnings of the Jesus movement, and guest-speaking at a southern California church. He recently learned of ancestry connecting him to the California Wintun tribe. He slowed down as multiple health conditions challenged his resolve. In his last days he told Patti he was ready to go meet their dad at the river. She imagines them fishing side by side and exchanging stories, true and tall alike.

Mike is survived by his sister Patti, step-sisters Roberta and Tracy and step-brothers Scott, Todd and Brad; nephews Will, Jake, and Joe; and nieces Marissa, Nikki, Gabby and Jaclyn; Aunt Marsha and Uncle Don, and several great nephews and nieces, many cousins, his godson, and his many friends who were as much family as the rest listed prior. The family’s special thanks to Pete, Linda, Mark and Carla. Their love and caring were beyond measure. Further thanks to the doctors and staff at Fresenius Dialysis center in Beaumont, the doctors and staff at Diamond Valley Dialysis center in San Jacinto, Horizon Home Health nurses and therapists, and many providers who cared for Mike whose names are too many to list here. Much love and thanks to all who visited, shared a meal, or reached out to Mike by phone. Each of them carried him along a challenging path and on some days, lifted him so he could continue his journey. He kept his faith to the end.

Mike’s gone fishin’, no longer in pain or struggling with fading health.