Michon (Filion) Skirving

July 01, 1947 – February 19, 2023

On the morning of Sunday February 19, 2023, Michon passed away peacefully with family by her side at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon after having a stroke followed by a heart attack earlier in the week. Michon was 75 years old.

Michon Skirving was born July 1, 1947 in Wilbur, Washington. She was the third child of Ava and Woodrow “Sam” P. Filion.

Michon’s first home was in Electric City, WA., where she lived with her parents, and older brother and sister, Jerry and Paula. Her father worked on the Dams as they were built along the Columbia River. Their family moved multiple times landing in Ione, WA., Pasco, WA., Umatilla, OR, before they moved and stayed in The Dalles, OR.

Michon was in elementary school when she moved to The Dalles. She graduated high school in The Dalles in 1966. Michon attended college in Portland, OR., with plans to learn to be a merchandise buyer. However, she did not finish this plan. Instead, she married Robert “Bob” Skirving in late 1966 (later divorced in 1996).  Michon cared for her young family, and once her children were in school Michon worked as a bookkeeper for their combine tractor business. In 1983 the family moved to Portland. Michon worked alongside her husband managing the ordering and coordination of their Amway business. When their Amway business ended Michon began working downtown Portland at Brokerage Firm responsible for receiving and distributing stock and bond certificates – in the “cage.”  She later worked as a broker’s assistant for various brokers before retiring to live with and care for her mother. Shortly after the passing of her mother Michon moved to Kauai, Hawaii in late 2011 to be present for the birth of her fourth grandchild. Michon lived on Kauai for 2 years before moving with her daughter’s family back to Portland, Oregon, where six months later Michon has a significant life changing stroke in June 2014.

Michon’s rehabilitation was a tough battle of physical, occupational, and speech therapies. She worked diligently to learn to swallow, to use her left side of her body to regain some mobility with the use of a wheelchair. She was able to listen and answer questions with ‘yes and no’ responses.  Michon lived approximately four years in a wonderful adult foster home in Damascus, OR., before moving in with her second daughter and her family where she remained until her passing. Michon had in-home caregivers who she enjoyed and those who enjoyed her humor and determined spirit. Her first in-home caregiver was her first grandchild, Makaila. It was life changing for Michon to be around family consistently. She enjoyed visiting with Makaila and Makaila’s children. Her last caregiver was named Lidiya. Her family is extremely thankful to the caregivers at the foster home and the in-home caregivers.

Michon loved her family, her children, and her grandchildren. Any time she had with them was precious to her. Throughout her life she was mechanically inclined and to help save money she fixed the dryer and washer on occasion. She loved nature and the change of seasons. She was artistically creative finding time to make beaded rings, bracelets, fancy book markers, and took a stain glass art class. She like to garden, bake, and clean. She was always able to get tough stains out of favorite clothing. She loved her dogs and cats over the years. Michon enjoyed watching Trail Blazer games, especially after the stroke – she would not miss a game if she could help it.  During her life Michon remain cheerful and positive. She loved to laugh. Her smile and laugh were endearing to all who had the privilege to experience it. She loved the Lord and her relationship and faith in God was her foundation. She attended church where she warmed the hearts of others. Another attribute Michon had during her life, including after having her initial stroke was not wanting to be a burden. After having the stroke, she was determined to do as much as she could on her own. This characteristic was true throughout her life. Michon’s encouraging spirit, willingness to listen, and her contagious, yet sometimes sarcastic, joy will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

Michon was preceded in death by her sister, Paula J. Filion (deceased 1952), her parents, Ava (Wetzel) Filion (2011) and Woodrow “Sam” P. Filion (2001). Michon is survived by her children, Kimberly (Skirving) Douglas and son-in-law James Douglas, Jason Skirving and daughter-in-law Deanna Skirving, and Melissa (Skirving) Jackson and son-in-law Scott Jackson; her brother Jerry Filion and sister-in-law Anne Filion. She is survived by her grandchildren and great grandchildren; Makaila Warren, her children Cash Warren and Lila Warren; Makena Jackson; Taylen Skirving, his children Faith Skirving and Xaniah Skirving; Jake and Courtney Skirving, their children Cooper Skirving and Jack Skirving. She also is survived by her nephew Jeff Filion and his wife Gwen Filion, her niece Paula (Filion) and her husband Louie Hegel, a sister-in-law Sandra Ward, nieces Jenny (Ward) Bonderman and Carrie (Ward) Lindgren. Michon is also survived, by many Wetzel family cousins and Filion family cousins, and lastly by most definitely not least, many caring friends.

A celebration of life will be held April 1, 2023 at Sunnyside Foursquare Church in the Sunnyside Room at 11:00am with a light reception following. A gravesite burial of her ashes will be held at a later time for family.  She will be laid to rest in Almira, WA alongside her parents, sister and many relatives.

Thank you to the staff at Providence Portland Medical Center for the support during this challenging time for both Michon and family. Also, thank you to James Han and the rest of the employees at Omega Funeral & Cremation Services for such professional care and attention.

If you would like to send family condolences you may contact the family directly or omegaservices.com. If you would like to donate, please consider donating to the American Stroke Foundation at website Americanstroke.org/donate/