James Michael Felton Obituary
Obituary | James Michael Felton of Shelton, Washington | Forest Funeral Home Cremation and Cemetery.
James Michael Felton of Harstine Island, passed away at home, surrounded by family and friends. Mike as he was known by was born in Elma Washington to James Luther Felton and Vivian Elaine (Reams) Felton, on August 30, 1948.
Mike grew up attending grade school and high school in Montesano. Mike often said his favorite class was shop class, where he learned to build and operate all types of equipment.
Mike grew up during the Vietnam War; he married Rose Mary Davidson in May of 1967 and enlisted in the United States army in August of 1968. Mike took basic training at Fort Lewis then was transferred to Fort Benning, Georgia. Mike was a militarily trained firefighter, training in Crash and rescue. He and Rose were divorced; Mike then spent 13 months in Korea. Mike said he put in for Germany as he was still active military in August of 1971 but Mike was sent to Vietnam. He spent 13 months overseas. When he came home on leave, he married Judith Weaver in 1972 and they had a daughter in 1979 and that marriage ended in divorce. Mike being ever the cockeyed optimist, he married a third time, had a child, and was divorced a year later.
Mike held many jobs in his lifetime, he worked at the Theater at the South Shore Mall, he became an ambulance driver, drove transit bus, School bus driver for Elma school district, built houses, worked as a skidder operator for Simpson Timber Company at Camp Grisdale, but by far his favorite job was working in a body shop in Aberdeen. Bodywork was a skill that would serve Mike well in his later years. Mike went to work at a convenience store in Elma as a clerk. It was during this time that Mike met Suzan Glaser Montano.
Mike and Suzy were married on December 2, 1983, having just celebrated 40 years of marriage; together they became a blended family raising four children. In 1993, The Montano Felton Family moved to Harstine Island, establishing a home in a family-owned Christmas Tree Farm.
While Mike enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, traveling, woodworking doing Intarsia, building the 1940 Dodge truck, nothing compared to how much Mike loved gatherings, spending time with his kids, grandkids, and great grand kids and his many wonderful friends and his best friend Ray Neatrour.
Mike felt that the biggest accomplishment of his life was the privilege of serving on the Pioneer School Board. Mike proudly served on the Board for 25 years. It was especially important to him that the children in our school district got the best education that we could provide. One of Mike's goals was to get a new school built, it took time and a lot of work by our community, but it got done. Having great leadership combined with excellent teachers was the key to providing the best foundation for our kids. Pioneer has the absolute best. Mike always said we need to put what was best for the children first. When Mike saw a need he stepped up, the preschoolers were not getting bikes with the Read to Ride program. So, the first year he donated two bikes, the second year it was four and then it was six, then Covid hit.
Mike is preceded in death by his parents James and Vivian Felton, sister Patrica Felton Kelley, and nephew David Kelley.
He is survived by his brothers Jerry Felton (wife Joy), Terry Felton (wife Judy), all of Montesano with many nieces' nephews' and cousins. Wife Suzan Montano Felton of the family home, daughters Sheri Romero Nelson and Aaron Mail of Shelton, Shannon M. Beyer of Aberdeen, son Shawn Montano (wife Brittany) of Shelton, and daughter Nicole Felton Graves (husband Wes Graves) of Shelton.
Grandchildren, Bryce Romero, Brett Romero, Wyatt Nelson all of Hoquiam, Dakota Benidict wife Rachel, Noah Benidict all of Shelton, Owen Wilson, Riley K Macias, Sophia Beyer all of Aberdeen, Aaron Montano, U.S. Navy somewhere in South China Sea. Alexis Haley Edmons, Kayelle Montano of Shelton, Cheyanne Graves, Emmalie Graves, Richard Graves, Chase Graves all of Shelton.
Great-grandchildren Zaylynn, Maddison, Malcom, Andrew all of Aberdeen, Charlotte, and Jason Edmons. Madrona of Shelton.
We did not expect to lose Mike so soon. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in January of 2021. His Parkinson's was caused by his exposure to Agent Orange. Mike was 75 years old.
There will be a Celebration of Life at the Harstine Community Hall on Saturday June 22 at 1:00 p.m. there will be a Military Honor Guard with flag presentation the sharing of memories of Mike with a luncheon to follow provided by the Harstine Ladies Club. Mike will be laid to rest at the Ballow Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. There is limited parking at the cemetery but there will be parking at Billy Martins house at Ballow Y.
