The last few years of his life Michael Shaman had made many new friends with the people, plants and animals of Globe, Arizona after relocating in 2020 from Gilroy, California. He enjoyed remodeling his Hackney Hill home, planting trees, flowers and vegetables in his garden, and feeding the birds. He worked part-time at the Golden Hills Nursery and Feed Center, and often traveled back to California to visit his friends and Tai Chi students in Gilroy, San Francisco and Los Angeles, California.

Born Allan Marston Thomason on May 10, 1948 in San Bernadino, California, he graduated from Pacific High School and went on to attend UCLA and the University of Wisconsin. He had many interests and after obtaining multiple masters degrees he worked in many careers in his young adult life. One of his career paths was as an actor, and he went by the professional name Michael Shaman for most of his adult life. Once he discovered Tai Chi it became his main passion.  For many decades he taught martial arts in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Gilroy, California at his Pacific Light and Power Dojo as the Chief Instructor.

After a nearly four month battle for his life, Michael succumbed to complications from Legionnaires Disease on November 25, 2022 at the Northwest Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. He is predeceased by his parents Ryland and Evelyn Thomason. He is survived by his two brothers, Neil from Melbourne, Australia and Douglas from Paris, France, his former wife from 1969 to 1982, Rosemary, his three daughters Leise, Josephine and Taymar, son Christopher and grandchildren, Michelangelo, Caspian, Lilandra, Reyna, Atticus and Benjamin from Tucson, AZ and Santa Barbara, CA. He also leaves behind many wonderful friends and students from all over the world, as well as his beloved cat Sherbet who now resides with his daughter's family.

Michael was cremated in a witness and final blessing ceremony at Adair Funeral Home in Tucson, Arizona on December 12th. 

A memorial will be held December 21st at 2pm at the Wat Buddhametta Buddhist Temple located at 11133 S Swan Rd, Tucson, AZ 85711. Donations can be made in person or online at https://www.tucsonbuddhistcen…

There will be a celebration of life January 12th at 1pm PST at the Gaden Shartse Thubten Dhargye Ling, 3500 E. Fourth Street, Long Beach, California, 90814 Donations can be made in person or online at https://www.gstdl.org

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