Michael John Holley
Michael John Holley, 77, passed away on April 21, 2025, in Kirkland, Washington. Born February 12, 1948, in Middleton, Pennsylvania.
Michael lived a remarkable life defined by service, innovation, and generosity. Michael’s early years involved significant travel due to his family’s connection with the military. He attended 18 different schools across seven states, collecting stories that he would later share with humor and fondness. Among his favorite memories were living in a Quonset hut in Alaska-where moose would peer through the windows, and attending the Howdy Doody TV show in New York City with his brother Pete.
Michael graduated from Fair Park High School, Shreveport Louisiana in 1966. He pursued higher education first at Louisiana Tech and several other community colleges before earning his bachelor’s in electrical engineering from Seattle University with honors in 1981 at age 33. This was a testament to his enduring passion for studying the emerging field of software development.
Michael served honorably in the United States Navy for six years as an Electronics Technician (E-5). During this time, he spent three years as an instructor at Treasure Island and two years stationed aboard the USS Michener destroyer stationed in Norfolk, VA. A defining moment during a cruise to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba came when he purchased the first issue of Byte magazine- an event that ignited a future civilian career in computers and technology. With a scarcity of fresh water for shaving, he returned with a full Castro beard- a feature of his appearance for the rest of his life.
After graduating from Seattle U, Michael embarked on a career that would define his professional life. He was passionate about the intersection of technology and creativity, and this led him to the burgeoning field of software engineering. His innovative spirit and dedication were evident in every project he undertook. He was known for his ability to think outside the box and for his meticulous attention to detail. Colleagues often relied on his expertise in solving complex problems, and his contributions to the industry were significant. The technical community recognized his talent, and he was frequently invited to speak at conferences and share his knowledge with others.
In 1973 Michael married Ina Frazier in San Francisco. Their nearly 52-year marriage was filled with shared adventure and companionship. In 1985 they welcomed their son Mark James into their lives. The family made their home in Bothell, Washington in 1978- a place where Michael found joy in permanence and poured his energies into building a wood-working shop and curating an extensive collection of vintage computers.
Professionally, Michael built an impressive career as a software engineer. He contributed to several leading companies in the Redmond area including Data IO, Hyperlinx, and Mentor Graphics. As project engineer for a language tool called Abel, he played a pivotal role in advancing software development tools. He co-authored two textbooks in this field that were in use for over 5 years.
Beyond career, Michael was deeply committed to his family and his faith. For 34 years he worshiped at Holy Spirit Lutheran where he ushered and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building houses with the youth. His talents were invaluable to the church’s handyman group for over a decade, and he served as information technology manger for 15 years- building desktops, installing network wiring, and software systems, managing backups, and viral protection, with dedication and humility. Michael’s dry wit and infectious smile left an impression on everyone he met. He generously shared his time and knowledge-always ready to help neighbors and church friends troubleshoot computer issues and build projects such as decks and fences.
His attention to detail, research, and documentation shone through not only professionally, but also through hobbies, such as photography, woodworking, home improvement, ancestry research, and personal computing history. A recognized national expert on early personal computing systems-especially Southwest Technical Products home computers- Michael lectured at conferences and trade shows while maintaining a dedicated website on the subject. He enjoyed attending Seatle Retro-Computing Club meeting where he delighted in sharing stories and swapping equipment with fellow enthusiasts.
Michael also had a love for travel that spanned every U.S state and many European countries throughout his life and marriage. A devoted Seahawks fan for over 20 years, he reveled in attending games at the stadium and even traveled to Super Bowl XLVIII.
He is fondly remembered by his wife Ina, son Mark, sister-in-law Janice, nephews Brian and Danny, nieces Tracy and Eileen, and great-nephews Layton and Noah, and great-niece Natalie. He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Cecelia, his brothers, Péter and Pat, and sister-in-law Margie Holley.
In his final five years Michael faced progressive Alzheimer’s disease with grace and courage. Through it all, his kindhearted spirit and unwavering sense of humor continued to shine through to those around him. He often quipped that his pocket notebook was his short-term memory. He also jokingly and frequently recalled his near-death experience in 2013 , “ I died twice in one day which qualified for a same day installation of a pacemaker.”
A Memorial Gathering will be held on June 14, 2025, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church located at 10021 NE 124th St, Kirkland. May Michael’s memory bring comfort for all who knew him.
The post first appeared on Barton Family Funeral Service.