Michael Rush Caldwell

Michael Rush Caldwell was born at Williams Air Force Base in Chandler, Arizona on October 6, 1961 to Bill Rush Caldwell and Kathryn Adelia Fahey Caldwell. He passed away Saturday, January 7, 2023 in Springerville, Arizona.

Michael graduated from Chandler High School, attended Mesa Community College then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard, where he served for 24 years. He was stationed in Kodiak, Alaska after graduating boot camp, then transferred to Long Beach, California for 2 years, then Seattle, Washington for 6 years and eventually found his way back to Alaska; first to Juneau, then finally  back to Kodiak. 

He was a Marine Science Tech or MST and worked on several oil spills all over Alaska; including the 2 largest oil spills in US History, the Exxon Valdez and the BP Deep Water Horizon spills.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping and quad riding with his family and friends and enjoyed the multiple annual summertime visits from his family, where they would ride their quads back to Miam Lake and catch their limit of silver salmon every trip, rain or shine.

Michael relocated to the lower 48 after retiring in 2012, first to Northern California then back to Springerville, where he purchased a house and had a place to call home.

He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Herman and Alma Caldwell, Citrus Heights, California; his maternal grandparents, James and Eva Fahey, Oroville, California; his parents, Bill and Kathryn Caldwell, Chandler; along with his trusted feline and best buddy, Cooter.

He is survived by his brothers, Tim Caldwell, Yuba City, California; Pat (Cathryn Milner) Caldwell, Florence, Oregon; sister, Kathy (Mike) Beckwith, Snowflake; and his recently adopted rescue canine, Walter.

He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Private services for the family will be held at a future date.

In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the Humane Society of the White Mountains, 3212 Porter Mountain Rd, Lakeside, Arizona, 85929 or PO Box 909, Lakeside, Arizona 85929.

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