Michael George Jackson, 49, passed away on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at Pullman Care.

He was born Oct. 6, 1974, to Merle and Joelle (Michaelis) Jackson in Richland. He attended school in Richland until the family moved to Idaho Falls in 1987.

He graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1994, then moved to Lewiston to attend Lewis-Clark State College. He obtained two degrees from LCSC; an associate’s degree in drafting (1997) and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice (2001).

While in college, Mike worked for Apartment Rentals in Moscow and ServiceMaster Restoration in Lewiston.

After his 2001 graduation, Mike moved to Nampa, where he worked as a technician for DirecTV/AT&T before moving to Asotin in 2022.

While living in Nampa, Mike met Echo Marchand and her son Kurt. Mike and Echo were married on Sept. 1, 2014, at the Sandstone Center in Nampa. The marriage later ended in divorce.

Staying in Nampa and remaining a father figure for Kurt after the divorce was one of the most important aspects of Mike’s life. Whether bonding over their love of music and movies, or working together on Mike’s ’93 Ford Bronco, Mike always took the time to make sure their connection was strong.

He also cherished his Uncle Mike time with nephews Austin and Alex, cheering them on as they played soccer with the same passion he had growing up.

Mike was also passionate about the Seattle Mariners, experiencing the highs and lows that M’s fans know all too well. One of his most treasured vacations was watching the M’s during spring training in Arizona with his dad, brother and close family friend David Cardwell in 2020.

Mike enjoyed solitude and was most at peace in nature. He went on hiking and camping trips with friends every year he lived in Nampa. He also spent an entire summer helping plant thousands of trees on a piece of family ground in Dayton, Wash. Although he complained about it bitterly at the time, he later remembered it as one of the most meaningful experiences he ever had.

Mike was a member of West Side Church in Richland and First Presbyterian Church in Idaho Falls.

Mike is survived by his parents Merle and Joelle Jackson, of Asotin; brother David Jackson (Kimberly), of Moscow; cousins Molly Likkel (Doug), of Clarkston, and John Eldred (Sarah), of Lewiston; uncle Don Jackson, of Dayton, uncle and aunt Ken and Marsha Eldred, of Lewiston; and nephews Austin and Alex Jackson, of Moscow.

Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held later this summer in Dayton.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests making a donation to the charity of your choice or planting a tree in Mike’s memory.

The family would also like to thank the staff at Pullman Care for their level of commitment and care for Mike.