- Date Of Birth: January 30, 1971
- Date Of Death: April 26, 2021
- Spouse: Kathryn Ireland
- Resting Place: Anchorage
- City: Grand Rapids
- State: Michigan
Michelle Lynn Lewis, age 50, passed away on Monday, April 26, 2021 after a 7-month battle with gallbladder cancer. Michelle was born on January 30, 1971 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Orin and Nancy Lewis. Following the death of her father, 6 year old Michelle moved with her mother to California so that they could be closer to Disneyland. There Nancy met Sally Pogue, who became her lifelong partner. Michelle, Nancy and Sally moved to Anchorage in 1984, where Michelle attended Clark Junior High and East High School, graduating in 1989. Michelle lived and worked in California and Washington after graduation, but moved back to Alaska for good after several years away. Michelle had numerous jobs over the years.
She worked for a law firm, was a short haul truck driver, owned a coffee stand, and worked in purchasing for several businesses, most recently ATS Alaska. Michelle excelled at every job she had, and her employers were always amazed at her fastidiousness and dedication. Michelle had a variety of interests over the years. She bowled, played softball and hockey, and was an avid motorcyclist for years. She was a lifelong bicycling enthusiast, cannon balling down every hill at breakneck speed. In February, following months of chemotherapy, she bought a fat-tire bike and was immediately zooming down single track trails at Kincaid. In recent years Michelle developed an interest in woodworking. She started out needing to replace a single step in her living room, and gradually honed her skills, culminating in making several pieces of beautiful furniture on display in her home. She was an animal lover, owning many pets over the years, including her Boston Terriers Xena, Xander, and Yoda.
Michelle met the love of her life, Kathryn Ireland, in 2014. Friendship developed into true love, and the two were wed July 16, 2016. The two of them loved adventures, and spent many happy days skiing, camping, biking, skating, white water rafting, zip-lining, scuba diving and much more. When they wed they vowed to always believe that the other had their best interest at heart, and to love each other unconditionally. They kept those vows. Michelle leaves behind her wife Kathryn, and her step mother, Sally. She was preceded in death by her parents Orin Lewis and Nancy Lewis. A Celebration of Life will be held July 16 in Eagle River.
