Forrest R. McMichael II

November 20, 1951 - December 8, 2021

Forrest R. McMichael II, affectionately known as Spike, of Fort Collins, Colorado, succumbed to a brain tumor on December 8, 2021 at the age of 70. Born in Cheyenne, Wyoming, as the child of a career military family, Forrest grew up in many places. He spoke most often of his early childhood in Britain, the culture of that time and place, and his teenage years in Lincoln, Nebraska. As a young man, Forrest continued to explore as many places as he could find his way to, ultimately settling in Northern Colorado, where the Rocky Mountains captured his heart. From then on he couldn’t be without them for any real length of time. No matter what happened or where he was in his life, he always returned to his mountains. He was a bow hunter and a fisherman, hiking and camping to find and enjoy the places where he could do those things. His spirit of exploration expanded past locations to include many interests as well. Across the years, Forrest enjoyed prospecting, his kayak and metal detector, wood engraving, jewelry making, martial arts, firearms, gardening, remodeling his home, horses, and taking pictures of the progress of his hobbies. He loved to play backgammon and was happy to meet any challenger in competition, particularly if one was interested in a friendly wager. He religiously watched football on Sundays, and somehow kept rooting for the Broncos in both good seasons and bad. Forrest was fascinated by how things worked. He would take something apart and put it back together just to know what made it work. Problem solving and puzzles were always in the center of his mind, especially those that involved a computer. A combination of this inquisitive mind and a need for independence lead Forrest to start his own business, repairing computers for a variety of businesses and individuals. He spent many days wrestling with the endless tangle of possibilities that a computer and business network could create, never suffering boredom. Forrest most often preferred solitude. He was happiest and most at peace when he was alone with his own thoughts. He enjoyed writing and reading, doing both nearly every day. He woke up every morning at 6 am by his internal clock, the perfect time to watch the sun rising while he performed his morning Tai Chi sun salutations. The early morning, quietly painted by the sunrise, was his favorite time of day. Forrest is survived by his sisters Kathy Gordon, Kelly Cidlik, and Peggy McMichael, his brother John McMichael, his son Christopher McMichael, his daughter Andrea McMichael, his former wife and recent caregiver Kristie McMichael, his grandson Johnathon Cole, his granddaughters Bailey McMichael and Kaitlyn McMichael, and his canine companion Judy. A memorial gathering will be held Sunday January 2, 2022 at Primrose Studio outside of Fort Collins, Colorado. Additional details for this service are available by contacting Andi McMichael at [email protected]