Michael Joseph Gagnon, CWO4 USN (Ret), 48, longtime resident of Oak Harbor, died at his home Jan. 17, 2003, following a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer.

Mr. Gagnon was born Oct. 15, 1954, in Concord, N.C., to George William Gagnon, Sr. and Margaret Louise (West) Gagnon. His father was serving in the Navy, and the family lived in various duty stations. They came to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station in 1966, and Michael graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1973.

In January 1974, he entered the U.S. Navy, and following boot camp was assigned to VF-161 aboard the USS Midway in Yokosuka, Japan. During his first tour in Japan, he met Kyoko Shiroishi. They were married April 22, 1977, in Chula Vista, Calif.

In 1978, he was assigned to the Guided Missile Unit 41 in Point Mugu, Calif., where he was involved in captive carrier/reporting of AIM missiles. From 1980 to 1986, he was stationed in Guam, during which time he was made chief petty officer. He returned to Oak Harbor in 1986, and was assigned as branch/division chief petty officer of Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. He was involved in the supervision of repairs of system equipment support for the EA-6B/A-6E and P-3 aircraft. It was during this time that he received commission as a chief warrant officer.

During Desert Shield/Storm, he served aboard the USS Midway. Following this, he was aboard the USS Blue Ridge, where he was maintenance officer for the admiral of the 7th Fleet H-3 Helicopter. While in Atsugi, Japan, he received commission as a lieutenant, and was officer in charge for the Carrier Air Wing from 1994-97. He returned to NAS Whidbey in 1997, and was NATEC/NAESU officer in charge until 2000, when he retired as a lieutenant.

Following his retirement, he was employed as the relocation specialist for Fleet and Family Support Center. During this time, he also was attending Skagit Valley College. Michael enjoyed hunting, fishing and golfing.

He is survived by his wife Kyoko, at home in Oak Harbor; his three children, Stephen Michael Gagnon (born in 1980 in Key West, Fla.), at Washington State University in Pullman, John Michael Gagnon (born in 1984 in Guam) at University of Washington in Seattle, and Michelle Marie Gagnon (born in 1986 at NAS Whidbey Hospital), of Oak Harbor; his parents, George and Margaret Gagnon of Hayden, Idaho; three sisters, Peggy Beard and husband Don of Dinuba, Calif., Therese Baty of Federal Way and Kathryn Gagnon of Des Moines; two brothers, George Gagnon III of Hayden, Idaho, and Sean Gagnon and wife Tina of Vancouver; also, numerous other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his brother, Stephen Francis Gagnon in 1974.

A memorial service will be Saturday, Jan. 25, at 11 a.m., at Burley Funeral Chapel, Father Ronald Belisle officiating. Military honors and private family committal services will be at a later date at Tahoma National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Skagit Hospice, c/o Affiliated Service, 1971, SR 20, Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284. Arrangements and cremation under direction of Burley Funeral Chapel.