After I left college, I needed a job — and that’s when I met my first real professional mentor, Mike McClarrinon. He was my first official boss at HomeBase Home Improvement, and more than that, he was the kind of leader who could get the absolute best out of people.
Whenever a task seemed impossible, Mike would grin and say, “If I gave you a million dollars, could you get this done?” The answer, of course, was always yes — and that simple question changed the way I looked at hard work and challenges for the rest of my career.
That lesson stuck with me. To this day, whenever I’m faced with a mountain of things to get done, I still hear Mike’s voice reminding me that it’s all possible if you just commit and figure it out.
Mike made a lasting impact on me — not just as a boss, but as a mentor and a genuinely good person. He’ll be missed, but his influence will continue to live on in the people he led and inspired.
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Mike was always the one that would harass everyone that he met. When I first started with Home Depot, Mike was my trainer. Boy oh boy what did I do to get Mike. The other trainee I was working with, almost quit due to Mike's "go build this endcap and let me know when you are done." Everytime, we thought we would be done, Mike would find some issue or concern, he never told us about the first ten times. I know he was laughing in the background. However, the other trainee was not so encouraged and was about to quit. I just laughed and to the trainee Mike was just F'n with us．
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My memories of Mike are all great. But when he was an assistant manager in Puyallup, I was his interview buddy for awhile. I have never met anyone who could get information out of an applicant while using his great sense of humor. We laughed so many times after interviews, I couldn't count them all.
We had such a tight knit group of people from that store. We went to see his graduation from Fire Fighter training. Technically, I guess we crossed the line since he was our Assistant Manager. In the end, we went because we were so proud of him and he wanted us there. We all went our separate ways eventually, but that bond remained forever.
Happy 64th my friend!
Julie O'Keeffe
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Micheal it's been a little over two years since you passed, I sure hope things are better there, I may have said stupid things, but I loved you so much, and I miss you, we weren't as close as I like, we sure didn't have the best role models growing up, we did and do the best we can or could. I heard from your old friend Garry today, learned a lot. I really do love you, and miss your hugs and smile. I do hope to see you on the other side.
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He was great boss and friend. He is truly missed.
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Michael McClarrinon birthday is today.
Michael moved to Lacey WA as a outgoing
Freshman in Summer of 76’ when many of
us were still at Thomson &/or Whitman
Jr. High Schools. I miss my best friend.
The best friend a fella could ever have.
Let us toast Michael McClarrinon tonight
at our 45th
Ingraham High School Class of 1979
Reunion!🙏 RIP Michael! Wife Kathy, you are
respected & loved!🙏
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Mike was My Husband's older brother and for all who knew tgier family wasn't always close due to thier mom but he loved him and shared what baseball memories he had with about him, I can see he was a great and handsome man RIP OR PARTY IT UP UNTIL WE SEE YOU ON THE OTHER SIDE..
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I knew Mike growing up in North Seattle when his family lived on Interlake Ave North. So many fond memories of hanging out with Mike during our teenage years together. He was always encouraging, supportive and accepting even as a youngster. It is wonderful to read all the tributes from his co-workers and his employees about his leadership abilities. There is a long standing debate about whether leaders are born or made. I honestly believe Mike was a born leader. I moved to California the day after my 21st birthday and Mike came by my parents house to wish me well. That’s just the kind of guy he was. Even though I only saw him just a handful of times in the intervening years after that he never changed. Always encouraging and supportive and interested in what was going on in my life. Like myself he undoubtedly made an impact on many he crossed paths with in his life. His legacy lives on in all the people he positively impacted during his lifetime. It was honor to be a small part of his life and someone I will never forget. My most heartfelt condolences to his family for their loss. Forever RIP Michael.
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We sure loved that man! Best boss ever! I worked for him for 10 years. One day I came to work with a lot of sawdust on me and a big smile on my face and he asked me what was going on. I told him I had just split and stacked the last of the firewood I would need for the season. He knew that I lived by myself and had a small farm that I tried my best to manage and I felt like at times he was proud of me for the hard work I put into everything I do. Even though we were only work family we were all genuinely a family. He cared about us and we cared about him. So sorry for his wife , kids and extended family.
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So sorry I just now heard the news. Prayers to the family.
My greatest memory was when Mike hired me in 1992 at the Tacoma Home Club. Being the young and dumb person I was, he still hired me and gave me the chance I didn't deserve. He was an inspiration.
Thank you for being a blessing throughout the many years, all the way through Home Depot.
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord" Job 1:21.
Peter and Heather
PS, NOBODY can do an Elvis impersonation better than Mike!
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I worked at HomeBase and The Home Depot with Mike for about 8 year from 1989 - 1997. I loved his sense of humor and spending any time I could with him. I look him up every so often to see how he is doing along with Dale Markey and Vern Grieves. Today I was shocked to see that he was gone. I have seen so much of this lately as I get older now 63. I want his family to know how much I liked him. So hard to read the news. RIP Mike
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Ive known Mike and his brother for over 30 years. He was the one that gave me my start in my retail career at Home Base in 1994. I remember getting a call at 3am while working night shift. It was from Mike telling me he wants me to come over to Home Depot with him. Took me 2 seconds to agree. Didn't ask any questions. That's how much I trusted and respected that man. I can ramble on with story after story. Mike, I love you. I'll miss you. I thank you for everything you have done for me. I'll always keep you close to my heart.
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Although I only knew Mike for a couple of months, he certainly made a great impact. Mike helped us to restore a sprinkler system for my late father's house that had been installed 18 years ago by my ex-husband. My dad was never really able to use it for reasons I couldn't remember. When Mike came to take a first look, he had so much excitement because he said he loved getting existing systems running again. And that he did....all 15 zones! I was beyond amazed and so happy because this meant that we never had to come over to change sprinklers multiple times a day. My late father's house is currently an AirBnb, so this was a really big deal! Every time Mike was there to work on it, I'd come over to check out the progress, he would show me what he got done and we'd end up talking for quite some time about all sorts of things. You could tell that he loved what he did and he was such hard worker! He had a great presence, zest for life, and awesome sense of humor. I lost my dad fairly suddenly early this year, so I have a lot of empathy for Kathy and their sons. What an amazing man...such a great loss.
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Kathy and family,
So sorry to learn of Mike passing away. Mike just helped me by digging a trench on October 1 and he looked great. He and Jimmy installed our sprinkler system in 2018 and did a fantastic job. Prayers and healing thoughts to your family.
Steve Eberl
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I miss my brother. I'm sorry that I didn't spend more time with him. I loved him very much. I'm sorry for your loss Kathy, Jimmy and Ryan. We all lost a great man the day he died.
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I can’t even put into words the sorrow I feel. My condolences to Kathy and his kids. Mike was loved by everyone that came into contact with him. Such a loss…. My prayers are with his family and friends.
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I was so sorry to hear this. I would always walk away smiling when engaging with Mike. His people loved him🧡You can’t ask for anything more from a leader. He will be missed. My condolences to the family.
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Condolences to you and your family we love you and think about you everyday. What a great example and a great man.
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words find no place. Kathy I am there for you if ever a need arises.
Mike was the Tru Maverick. one of the originals.
Mike was a father figure who became a close friend who lives on as my Mentor. for over 15 years in some form we fought sales as the dynamic duo.
his people loved him...as he engaged them at thier level. on the groundfloor attacking work loads normally with feather duster sticking out of his pocket. never hovering above, but side by side to "win the day".
he became their gladiator! in every arena he entered.
I could go on with so many things and stories. just know this ...
in this life Mike be will be known for doing it right.
"Nobility is defined by one's actions, it is not a birthright"
and Mike's actions live on through so many lives. as time will now show.
may God speed Michael on this journey as I am sure he has a camera in hand making an epic film getting just the right angles along the way.
to Cathy and family. thank you for sharing Micheal with us over these years. he meant the world to us.
and to me.
love the Grieves nation
Vernon, kyle, Rieley, Taylor
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