Michael Edward Vowell

Michael was born on July 24, 1952 in Tulsa, Oklahoma to Thomas and Doris Lee Vowell. He spent the majority of his life in Washington state, residing in Edmonds since 1992. He passed peacefully on June 23, 2026 in the arms of his best friend, life partner, and loving wife of 34 years, Yvonne (Lagro) Vowell.

Michael and Yvonne met at Swedish Medical Center in 1988. She was a registered nurse and he was working in an adjacent department while attending college. They “sparked” for several months before he finally asked her out on a date. They married in 1992 and resided in Edmonds during their time together.

Michael graduated with a degree in diagnostic ultrasound from Bellevue Community College, specializing in echo sonography, and was employed by several local healthcare organizations. He later changed direction, obtaining a network technology degree from Edmonds Community College, subsequently owning and operating his own business for several years.

He was an avid skier, roller-skater, hiker, cyclist, movie buff, and loved touring wineries and discovering a good chardonnay. He enjoyed camping, beach combing at their Oregon coast vacation getaway, sci-fi movies, documentaries, jazz, road trips, and anything related to science and space exploration. He was a big football fan, especially of the Seahawks.

Michael loved everything involving aircraft. A radio-controlled airplane enthusiast, he built numerous planes (one on the dining room table) and enjoyed the camaraderie of flying them with friends. He had also been a member of a local soaring club. He loved sky diving and attending air shows, especially military exhibitions.

A classic car lover, he enjoyed attending events and entered his 1991 Z-28 Chevy Camaro convertible in numerous shows, winning best in class at an all-Camaro event. He was also a fan of car races, watching on TV or attending live events.

Michael was a gourmet chef and loved to create new dishes, rarely ever following a recipe. On their first date, Michael and Yvonne roller-skated around Green Lake, and afterwards he made her one of his favorite dishes. With a smile, he would tell others “From that moment on I’ve done all of the cooking!”, but he would not have had it any other way.

He was proud of his pristine yard, which was often the envy of the neighborhood. Michael would spend hours trimming, mowing, blowing, and shaping shrubs to perfection. Weeds didn’t have a chance in his yard.

Michael’s most favorite hobby though was his aquarium. Having had aquariums since he was a young boy, he was extremely knowledgeable, diligent about cleanliness, the health of the fish, and the absolute beauty of the tank. He would spend hours upon hours making sure everything was perfect, just the way he wanted it, and that the fish were happy. It was his pride and joy.

He loved each of the dogs he and Yvonne have had over the years. Like his dedication to the aquarium, Michael was the same with their Samoyeds and Huskies. He trained each one to be good social beings and behave appropriately. Notably called the “neighborhood dog whisperer”, he frequently helped others reign in their little critters.

Michael had an impish sense of humor. Friends, family, neighbors, healthcare providers, and even strangers enjoyed his zingers, one-liners, dumb dad jokes, and his canny way of telling a story, making it completely believable up to the punch line. And then he would laugh when he “gotcha.”

Michael was a caring, sensitive, generous, and kind man. He made acquaintances easily, was a good friend, and would always lend a hand to help others.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, family, friends, neighbors, healthcare providers, and precious doggies.

I love you, Michael. I know you are watching over me and I am holding you close in my heart. A, E, I, O, U and always “Y”

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date.

A special Thank You to the care teams at EvergreenHealth Medical Center and EvergreenHealth Hospice for the exceptional care and support provided to Michael.

Purdy & Walters at Floral Hills 409 Filbert Rd. Lynnwood, WA 98036.