Michael “Mike” Francis Goularte, 66

Michael ‘Mike’ Francis Goularte, 66

We lost one of the really good guys when Mike lost his two and a half year battle with Primary Myelofibrosis at the University of Washington Medical Center Seattle while undergoing a bone marrow transplant on April 8, 2019.

Mike was born Dec. 11, 1952 in San Jose, Calif. to Frank and Mary (Vargas) Goularte, joining brothers John and George. Mike graduated from James Logan High School in Union City, Calif., class of 1971. He went on to become a Journeyman Carpenter.

Mike moved to Southern Idaho in the mid-1970s, but once he discovered the beauty of North Idaho, he moved his family to Coeur d’Alene and started Precision Bilt Homes in the early 1980s.

Mike was a true craftsman, taking pride in his work and the homes he built. His attention to detail showed not only in the homes, but in the relationships he had with his clients and subcontractors, friends and family. Everybody loved Mike!

Mike was an exceptional father and grandfather. He instilled the value of hard work and dedication to Precision. A great way for the kids and grandkids to earn money was helping around construction sites learning how to do things the way they should be done. Mike spent many a spring and summer day coaching Mike Jr.’s baseball team. He not only coached Jennifer’s softball team, but Precision Bilt Homes was the sponsor.

Then there were the annual backpacking trips, when he and his best friend Phil took anywhere from four to six kids for a week-long excursion. He also taught time management skills; if you were to arrive at 5:15, as long as you made it before 5:16, you weren’t late. He always pushed the clock!

In March of 2000, Mike and I married, and what a wild ride it’s been. In the last 19 years, we have been on some amazing adventures. Mike loved the outdoors, whether it was fishing a lake or a stream, hiking, backpacking, tent camping, glamping or riding 4-wheelers. Some of this he had a love for before he met me and some of these we learned to love together. In the last few years, Mike became a rock hound, and I have crates of rocks to prove it. He also enjoyed NASCAR and we made it to five races at four different tracks.

Mike’s favorite football team was the Denver Broncos and mine’s the Seattle Seahawks, so guess who liked Super Bowl 48 better. Mike truly loved men’s college basketball and Duke was his team. In February of 2018, we checked the top item off his bucket list and attended Syracuse @ Duke in North Carolina at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Thank you, Norma. Oh, how I will miss My Mike!

Every Monday from October of 2016 until January of 2019, Mike went in for labs and potential blood transfusions at Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services, where the nurses took care of him with love and compassion. During the 34 days we were at the University of Washington Medical Center, the many teams of doctors and nurses who cared for Mike were also loving and compassionate. We thank and love you all.

The love and support we have received from our family and friends has been beyond amazing. Thanks to each and everyone of you. I know Mike’s heart is happy knowing you are all helping me transition into my new normal. I am truly grateful.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, mother and both his brothers; father-in-law Fred Gavin. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver, Melanie; son, Michael (Molly); daughters, Jennifer (Terry) Felice, Shellie Hazelton and Andrea Bania; grandchildren, Rachael, Malachi, Justin, Makaiah, Jazlynn, Kaden, Malyna, Toby and Baylor; mother-in-law Shirley Gavin; sisters-in-law Mae Aguiar, Carol Goularte and Dana (Len Lichenberger) Farver; brothers-in-law Rich Farver and Jack (Mary) Farver. He was also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a monetary donation to Be The Match, or better yet, if you are between the ages of 18 to 44, go to bethematch.org and join the bone marrow registry.

We will be celebrating Mike’s life at 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Yates Funeral Home-Coeur d’Alene Chapel, 744 N. Fourth St, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814. A reception will follow at Paddy’s Sports Bar, 601 W. Appleway Ave. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83814.

Yates Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Mike’s online memorial and sign his guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com