Michael Howard White, age 63, former Oak Harbor resident, passed away of natural causes at his Portland home on Monday, Dec. 12.

Michael was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Oct. 10, 1953, to Howard Gervis White and Thelma Jean (Griffin) White. In addition to Hawaii, he also lived in California and New York, before coming to Oak Harbor.

He was a 1971 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. In his younger years, he was instrumental in starting Help House, along with friends.

Michael was a resident of Portland, Ore., for five years. He loved education and received a bachelor of science degree from Washington State University, Vancouver, and was currently in a master’s program. He was a teaching assistant for abnormal psychology and a research assistant for work on chronic fatigue syndrome.

He was involved in campus student government and advocated on behalf of the Students with Disabilities Club and was a member of the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Board. Michael was a recipient of the 2015-2016 Lori Irving Memorial Psychology Scholarship, a distinguished honor.

Michael is survived by his three children, Benjamin White (Colleen) of Marysville, Katie Ring (David) of Charleston, S.C. and Chloe Grace White of Lowell, Ind.; four grandchildren, Alexis and Tessa Ring, Seamus and Declan White; brother Tom White (Debbie) of Round Rock, Texas; and Pam White of Oak Harbor. He is also survived by his brother-in-law Jack Christian of Oak Harbor; his nephew, Joshua Christian of Oak Harbor; and two nieces, Carrie White of Houston, Texas and Kelly White of Austin, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard “Bud” White in 1997 and by his sister Patty Christian in 2016.

Memorials are suggested to go to Oak Harbor Help House.

A celebration of life service will be held in the spring. Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com