Michael Allen Barr

April 3, 1943 — Feb. 16, 2020

Mike was born on April 3, 1943, to Lawrence V. and Jurene P. Barr in Spokane, Wash. He passed away on Feb. 16, 2020, at the Advanced Care Hospital in Post Falls, with family members at his side.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Garry Hayes; and son, Thad Pike. He is survived by his wife, Nancy of Coeur d’Alene; daughter, Carrie Barr Jumper of Sandy, Utah; his sons, Eric Barr of Spokane, Bill Barr of Sandy and Brett L Pike of Clarkston, Wash. Along with his children there are 13 grandchildren and two great-granddaughters and also a few nieces, nephews and, of course, his Canadian family.

He grew up in the Spokane Valley and attended grade school there. He went on to graduate from West Valley High School, Class of ’61. He spent his summer vacations in Athabasca, Alberta, Canada, visiting his grandparents and playing with cousins. After graduation, he attended North Idaho College and then transferred to Eastern Washington to obtain his degree in business with a minor in history.

Mike and the love of his life, Nancy, were married 47 years ago in Spokane and later moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho. Together they raised their five children, with a couple extras now and then for dinner and other family activities. They made quite an impression on those “extra kids”; they speak very highly of their influence and guidance, and have looked up to them throughout their lives.

As the kids grew up, they attended many sporting events and school activities with the never-ending practice schedules. There was also the annual trip to the Oregon Coast for the family vacation. So many memories came from those trips: looking for agates, playing in the tidal pools and running around in the sand. The kids’ teenage years put his dad skills to test, but together with Nancy, they made it through.

As they transitioned to being empty nesters they were able to travel to many places around the world. Mike was a bit of a homebody, but Nancy prevailed and got him out the door. Once there, Mike clearly enjoyed himself while visiting places such as Alaska, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Africa, Canada and many other fantastic places.

His parents were very important to Mike and he spent many lunch times with them, enjoying mom’s cooking. There were also backyard get-togethers; every so often the family could enjoy time at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. The kids spent hours in Grandpa’s basement workshop and running around the yard with their cousins.

A good way to describe what Mike liked to do was a little bit of everything. He hunted as a young man and made a few trips with his sons as they grew up. Later, he moved away from using a rifle and just “shot” with his camera instead. He enjoyed the outdoors — from the beaches on the coast to the glaciers in Alaska. There were not many nature shows he didn’t get to watch and enjoy either.

Mike also dabbled in fishing, with a couple trips to the coast to fish for salmon. He also made several fishing trips over the years with his kids to the surrounding lakes and rivers. He spent some time learning how to use a metal detector and collected coins to fill up his coin books. He even took over wine making from his parents and came up with a few good tasting batches.

When Mike was done cooking grilled cheese and Spaghetti O’s for his kids he developed a love for cooking, spurred by learning how to cook with sourdough, which he had maintained for 40 years. His grandkids sure enjoyed those sourdough pancakes. He honed his barbecue skills on an old charcoal Weber grill. He then transitioned to a Trager and mastered that as well. His holiday barbecue was always memorable, from prime rib to golden brown smoked turkeys. He loved to make it special for everyone.

Mike was a man who liked to work with his hands; definitely a few school projects he helped put together. There were decks, rock walls, fences, garages, sidewalks and many other projects he put his hands to, including the occasional household appliance. They all may not have been perfect, but he made it work and they came out good in the end. Mike spent many hours working on his kids’ cars, trying to help them save some money by doing their own repairs. They were good lessons that he taught his boys — being able to work on vehicles themselves. Probably the most memorable project Mike built was an amazing fireplace with a mantle and rock wall he built at the house in Hayden Lake. The family and neighborhood kids spent endless hours getting warm there during the north Idaho winters.

When Mike and Nancy moved to Coeur d’Alene they finally had a yard to take care of. Mike applied his work ethic to taking care of the place and turned it into a park-like, landscaped picture. I am sure the neighbors also enjoyed it, even maybe a little bit jealous. Mike and Nancy would spend time together working in the yard and then enjoy the evening sitting on the patio around the fire pit when the weather allowed. He enjoyed growing his garden, even in those rough years when nothing seemed to grow very well. He grew red potatoes, a variety of tomatoes and anything else that sounded good that season.

Mike was a hard-working man all his life. Whether it was working at Buttrey’s or Idaho Fence Company or working around the house, he put in the time and effort to do the best job he could. Mike enjoyed the people he worked with and made lifelong friends. He had many stories over the years of the comradery that developed with his co-workers that ultimately became those lifelong friends.

We say goodbye to Mike as his adored and beloved wife, his grateful and loving children, his blessed family and his lifelong friends. We are all so grateful to have shared in Mike’s life and blessed with all the wonderful memories we have because of him. We love you.

There will not be a service per Mike’s request. A celebration of life will be held at the family home in Coeur d’Alene on March 21, 2020. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to The Isaac Foundation, 28 W. Third, Suite B-1, Spokane, WA 99201. The Isaac Foundation helps those living with autism.

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