Born on August 10, 1939, to Eugene M. and Louise J. Cathey in Fort Collins, Colo., Michael passed away on Oct. 4, 2010, at Whidbey General Hospital. He graduated from Colorado State University with a doctorate in veterinary medicine in 1965 and married Sidney Hickel the same year. After serving two years in the Army at White Sands Missile Range, N.M., Dr. Cathey moved to Alaska where he established the first full time veterinary clinic on Kodiak Island. He was active in his community for a number of years where he served on the city council, belonged to the Rotary Club and served as a deacon in his church. He learned to fly and loved to explore Kodiak Island by plane with his family as well as going hunting and sport fishing. He had many fond memories of his time spent in Kodiak and of its residents.

A traumatic head injury suffered in his vet clinic shortened his career, and the remaining 32 years of his life were spent in many treatment and rehabilitation facilities. Most recently he resided at Home Place in Oak Harbor. Surviving are his son Brent Cathey and wife Shyan of Kodiak and daughter Lea Cathey Zinzer and husband Shawn of Vernonia, Ore., and six grandchildren. His mother, Louise Weitzel of Lakewood, Colo, and his sisters Susan Schopf of Oak Harbor, Rosemary Salkovitz of Lee, N.H., and Margaret Levy of Golden, Colo., also survive him.

The family wishes to express their most sincere appreciation and gratitude to all the caregivers at Home Place, at Caregivers Cove (especially Kristi Huffman), the staff at Island Country Paratransit and to the devoted Stephens Ministers from the First United Methodist Church in Oak Harbor.

A Memorial Service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, Oak Harbor. A Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, at Grandview Cemetery, Ft. Collins, Colo. Arrangements have been entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor and to Allnugt Funeral Service, Ft. Collins.