Roy Donald Michie's Obituary
Roy was born in Dundee Scotland on June 26, 1920. His mother brought him to the United States and at 6 months of age he was adopted by his Aunt Lillian and Uncle William Michie, and grew up in Lake Forest, Illinois. His uncle was the caretaker for a large estate on Lake Michigan where he spent his youth. He always said that he “learned to swim before he even knew how to walk”. Growing up Roy’s other interests were playing football, hunting, skating and riding his beloved horse, Pilot. Roy believed that learning how to shoot well as a hunter prepared him to become a very good soldier.Roy was drafted into the Army and served for two years. He was a GI assigned to the 27th Infantry Regiment, the Wolfhounds. He stated his comrades called him “BAR Gunner Mitch” for his sharp shooting ability. He fought in the Philippines and served with the occupation forces in Japan,Roy became a welder and worked at this occupation throughout his life. He worked in the shipyards in San Francisco and then later in the aircraft industry after moving to San Diego.Roy married his high school sweetheart, Mary when he was nineteen years old. Roy used to say that he had a good relationship with his wife, “She keeps me on the straight and narrow and I don’t know where I would been if it hadn’t been for Mary”. They had two sons, Bruce and Bob. He was a very involved father and husband. He had a scout troop and did a lot of camping with his family. He was active with his kids and went hunting and waterskiing. Some of Roy’s fondest memories were using the family boat to go to the Colorado River and Lake Tahoe where Mary & Roy built a vacation home. Roy had three grandchildren: Donald, Kirk & Lisa and eight great-grandchildren, Heather, Olivia, Lauren, Ian, Allison, Emily, Connor & Bryce who all loved their “Bucky” dearly.Roy was predeceased by his two sons and his wife. He lived the last 7 ½ yrs of his life at the Veterans Home in Chula Vista, CA where he was lovingly cared for and passed away peacefully on June 3, 2015 also under the gentle care of Vitas Hospice.
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