Obituary of Michael Ross Birrell

Michael Ross Birrell, 77, a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ and loving father, grandfather, and brother, passed away calmly, surrounded by family on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, in Salt Lake City Utah, after over a month battle with COVID-19. Michael “Mike” Birrell, was born on June 15, 1944, the first child of Horace Ross Birrell and Betty Olson Birrell. Mike was born to his mother while his father was stationed in Europe during the World War II conflict. He was the oldest of 8 children, 3 brothers and 4 sisters that he loved very much. He spent his childhood in North Salt Lake City. After graduating from Bountiful High School, he served a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Central States mission. Following mission service, he enlisted in the US Marines. He served in the reserves for 6 years. Michael earned a degree from the University of Utah. He then earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM) at the College of Podiatric Medicine in San Francisco. He practiced podiatry in the Fresno/Clovis, California area for many years. Michael married Claudia Tuckett and raised 5 children together. He had great joy in his children’s accomplishments including mission service, educations, marriages, and the birth of grandchildren. Years after a divorce, Michael got involved in the church’s single adult program, where he met his eternal companion, Gail Fluke. They were married for eternity on May 2, 2009, in the Sacramento California Temple. He was very happy to gain a stepdaughter and her family. Although Michael and Gail enjoyed many interests together their time would be short because of the cancer that took Gail from him in 2015. Michael loved service, learning, and friends. He was always willing to serve in a church calling. He loved fellowshipping individuals especially single, widowed and widowers like himself. He served in church efforts to feed disadvantaged and encouraged his grandchildren to as well. Worship in the Temple and family history was a weekly part of the last several years of his life. Michael also loved gardening. He could make even the smallest area of dirt into a vegetable garden. He loved his country and its freedoms. He loved to study throughout his life especially medical information and the gospel of Jesus Christ. In his final days Michael expressed his great love and gratitude for his entire family, and his Savior Jesus Christ. He expressed a faith that he was returning his Father in Heaven and the family that had passed, including Gail his wife, his mother and Father, Betty and Horace, and his younger brother, Lynn. Michael is survived by his children, Justin (Kathy) Birrell, Heather (Benjamin) George, Jefferson (Ethel) Birrell, Jameson (Marci) Birrell, Hillari (David) Pitman, Wendi (Mike) Farnham, his siblings, Diane (Lew) Garfield, Barbra Hettich, David (Cory) Birrell, Gary (Sue) Birrell, Mary (Terry) Walker, Bonnie (Terry) Fritz, Tamera (Kevin) Ostergaard,) his beloved cousins and the 22 grandchildren (2 grandchildren in law) that he said were his joy. A memorial will be held in honor of Michael Birrell in Clovis California on October 1, 2021, at 11:00am, at the outside pavilion, behind the chapel at 220 North Peach Ave, Clovis, California 93611. All are welcome to attend but the family asks that those in attendance wear masks and/or practice social distancing to decrease the spread of COVID-19. Please follow the following link to watch via zoom, or copy and paste into a browser. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82458463660?pwd=NnRuc3RvS1p2UVJkemMrRFNReFU1UT09 Meeting ID: 824 5846 3660 Passcode: 179687 Michael’s children would love to know others’ memories of their father. Please send condolences and memories to hillari.pitman@gmail.com. We, the family, would like to give a huge thanks to U of U hospital and staff! We feel deep gratitude for their visitation policy, which allowed all of his kids to see him and to constantly be at his side.