Michael Clapin, 79

Michael Clapin, Cheney resident and Kootenai County Deputy Public Defender since 1999 and graduate of the University of Idaho Law School, passed away Monday, Aug. 26, 2024,  following a heart attack. He was 79 and still working.

Born in Bognor Regis, Sussex, England, and educated there, he joined his father, Basil — WWII RAF pilot, in Boise in the 1960s, earning a degree from Boise Junior College and a B.A. in economics from the University of Oregon. Then, he served with honor in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. 

Michael married Dr. LaVona Reeves in 1973, and together they raised four sons: Christopher Clapin, U.S. Army; Philip Clapin, Washington Air National Guard; D. Tyler Bussey, Portland Public Schools and Jason Reeves Adachi — who passed away in 2003. 

While working as an underwriter in New York City, he earned a master of business administration and a graduate degree in accounting at the New York University Wall Street Division at night. At the same time, he encouraged LaVona to earn an M.A. at Columbia and a doctoral degree. Returning to Boise, he worked for O’Brien Simmons and for Cumer Green as a certified public accountant before pursuing a law degree. 

Family was always first for Michael, and he adored his children and five grandchildren: Alexis, Ashley, Makayla, Keira and Lincoln and his three great-grandchildren, Iris, Uriah and Ivey. A classical pianist, we know Michael is playing in an angel band in heaven, and we will see him again in the next life.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 127 E. 12th Ave., Spokane, WA 99202.