Our beloved Michael Edwin Dickey has gone with the Lord to join his mom and dad in heaven on July, 2, 2013. He was born in Rawlins, Wyoming, on Dec. 5, 1956, and was preceded in death by his parents Lenard "Ed" and Marie Dickey, paternal grandparents Leonard "Elkins" and Lillian (Toney) Dickey, maternal grandparents Charles Ross and Eleanor (Walbye) McKinney. Mike spent most of his youth in western Washington, moved to Richland, Washington, in 1973, graduated from Kennewick High School in 1975, and attended Columbia Basin College. Mike married Susan Nuest in 1985. After their divorce they remained close friends, and enjoyed many activities together. He worked various jobs, and eventually had a twenty-two year career with the United States Postal Service, where he proudly served as a union representative for the American Postal Workers Union. One of his favorite summer jobs was surveying on the Columbia River alongside his dad. Michael was a good-hearted, thoughtful and humble man. He had a quick wit and hilarious sense of humor, and enjoyed making people laugh. He donated his time and resources to the community, children, and animals. Reminiscent of his family, Mike was a patriotic American, and a staunch supporter of worker's rights. Growing up, Mike played with his 007 briefcase action kit, Hot Wheels cars, and G.I. Joes, and was involved in Boy Scouts. He played football, basketball and baseball with the neighborhood kids, and enjoyed fishing and camping. He was an all-around American boy. Michael loved and explored music. He started learning at a young age, playing the clarinet and saxophone, and became dedicated to playing his first guitar, "Rosebud". At the age of fifteen, Mike & his friends, including Randy Grant, ventured out on their first gigs, as the Pacific R&R ( Rock & Roll) band, entertaining at the local roller rink in Lacey, Washington. While at CBC, he played saxophone in the CBC Jazz Band. His love of guitar led him to play in many bands. One of his first duos was with Bill Simpkin in Tu-Guise. He also played with Rex Gillespie in Reckless; with Alan Brower, Randy Paddock and Darren Dodgson in Groove Pavement, and many pickup bands. Most recently, Mike played with the CM2 (Cliff and the Michaels) trio, and was the bass player in the Dirty Rivers Blues Band, along with Michael Hedley, Roy Rupert, Clif Watson, Cal Bradbury and Dave Michels. Mike made many lifelong friends with both his bandmates and audience members. Because Mike learned to play from his heart and make every note count, he truly blessed others with his talent. Mike jokingly referred to himself as a "cat herder", and enjoyed the antics and companionship of his five cats, Sweet Pea, Lucille, Eddie, Nadine and Marlowe. Michael was blessed to have family, good friends, and band mates who truly loved him, and will miss him. To Mike, his friends were family. "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make" Abbey Road by Beatles Michael is survived by his sisters Cynthia Dickey-Reinbold, Teresa (Randy) Krekel, Charlene Dickey; nieces and nephews Brian McGhan, Chris McGhan, Melissa Dickey-Rogers, Megan (Mike) Santos, Sean Krekel; grandnieces Haylee and Kylie, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. We miss you Michael and we will forever hold you in our hearts. A graveside service will be held on Friday, August 2, 2013, at 10:00 a.m., at Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1401 S. Union Street, Kennewick.