Michael James Slawson

Michael (Mike) James Slawson passed away on July 29, 2022 at his home in Fort Collins, Colorado surrounded by his loving wife of 35 years, Bobette (Cleveland), and his 3 adult daughters Alysse, Annette and Michelle. Mike was born February 20th, 1958, in southern California; the youngest of four children to Alice (Jones) and Ken Slawson, public school teacher and principal. Mike believed in a strong work ethic, consistently working throughout high school and beyond. He held a diverse set of jobs and multiple careers. Immediately after high school, Mike moved to Mammoth Mountain in California where he became a “ski bum” taking various jobs on the mountain. Some of his favorite memories were spent with his friends the years he lived in Mammoth. After Mammoth, he became an ambulance driver while paying his way through college – graduating with his Bachelor of Science in finance and business management from California State University – Long Beach. He started his real estate career in southern California and kept his license throughout his lifetime in multiple states. After meeting the love of his life, Bobette, in 1985 at the Long Beach Ski Club, they married in January 1987. Shortly after they married, Mike started working in sales at Classic Soft Trim. This eventually moved the new family to Austin, TX where he became the Vice President of Operations. After a successful career in corporate America, he chose to move to Fort Collins, Colorado in 1998, and shifted his career to teaching so he could spend more time with his family. He graduated with his master’s degree from University of Northern Colorado, starting his teaching career at Northridge High School in Greeley, CO in 2000. He transferred to Poudre High School in 2008 as a teacher in the business department and retired in 2018. Mike loved to take advantage of the Colorado outdoors no matter what season. Hiking with his “hiking buddies”, golfing at leisure or in the Colindale summer league or Mesquite, snowboarding or skiing with his best friends, and biking around town were some of his favorite activities. When he wasn’t being active in Colorado you could find him traveling around the world with his wife or attending concerts at various venues, all the while taking epic selfie photos with friends and family. On Friday afternoons, he enjoyed sitting on his deck listening to music, sharing knowledge and wisdom with whomever would join him, and cracking jokes with both family members and friends. He loved to socialize and entertain. Mike was blessed with and appreciated a wonderfully close extended family who often traveled across states to get together for annual gatherings or ‘reunions’ either in CA or CO. Our lives will be less lively, less funny, and less enriched without the light and curiosity that Mike so generously shared with everyone he met. Mike was everyone’s favorite friend, favorite uncle, and favorite brother-in-law, favorite father-in-law and he lit up many lives. Mike was preceded in death by his father, Kenneth Slawson; mother, Alice (Jones). Mike is survived by his wife, Bobette Cleveland-Slawson; daughters Alysse (Evan Augustine), Annette (Dustin Geisert), Michelle Slawson; siblings Chris Soderberg (Robert), Dave Slawson (Brenda), Bob Slawson (Dee). A service to celebrate Mike’s life will be held on Saturday, August 20th at 11:00am at First United Methodist Church, 1005 Stover Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524. Immediately following the service will be a Slawson Backyard Bash held at Mike and Bobette’s home in Fort Collins.

Tributes

Michael James Slawson

February 20, 1958 - July 29, 2022