Michael John Darling, self-proclaimed "retired troublemaker," passed away unexpectedly at his home in Ocean Shores WA on October 31, 2024, at the age of 70. Born on February 23, 1954, in Springfield IL to Owen John Darling and Virginia Claire (Alkire) Darling, Michael was the fifth of six children.

Michael graduated in 1972 from Springfield High School, after a brief adventure attending school in Isla Vista CA. After high school, he moved to Carthage IL and had a son, Calder Sean Darling, in 1974 with Jeri Mercer. There he worked three jobs at a time – pumping gas, delivering pizzas, and digging graves. At this point Michael decided he best go to college, and in 1975-76 he attended Illinois State University at Bloomington-Normal. At ISU he joined his brother and a couple friends to form a band, "Ramshackle," playing lead guitar. Making music remained important to him throughout his life, and he especially enjoyed Donald Fagen of Steely Dan, Frank Zappa, Jeff Beck, Todd Rundgren, and Miles Davis.

After a friend told him about mild Washington winters and The Evergreen State College, Michael hitchhiked to and spent a year living in a professor's tiny cabin in Vader WA to gain residency before studying printmaking and design at TESC. He earned a bachelor's degree in 1980 and joined the Timberland Regional Library System in Olympia WA as its graphic designer, from 1981 to 1989.

Michael left TRL to become the art director for King County Library System at its service center in downtown Seattle. At KCLS he met and married a librarian, Shelley Voie, in 1998. In 2000 they moved to Burien and had a child, Erin "Elios" Olivia Voie Darling, in 2001. Also in the year 2000 Michael joined Seattle Aquarium as its graphics manager, where he retired as senior planning and development specialist in 2012.

In 2008 Michael and Shelley bought a second home in Ocean Shores, where he loved to walk the beach, hit golf and tennis balls around, shoot hoops, and drive his boat. When they separated in 2014, he moved to Ocean Shores and spent the rest of his years at his canal-front home. It was then that Michael started "flunking retirement" by becoming involved with civic pursuits, as his father and his grandfather (Percy Independence Darling) had done before him. While on the Ocean Shores Parks Board, he founded and became the director of the Ocean Shores Park Foundation. He also was named to the Coastal Interpretive Center board and served as its president.

Over the decades innumerable people in the Olympia, Seattle, and Ocean Shores areas have seen Michael's highly visible art and design work – including band posters, library summer reading materials, aquarium exhibits, and parks signs.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, brother Patrick Darling, and a niece. He is survived by his children, Calder (wife Shawna) Darling in Denver and Elios Darling in Chicago; brother Dennis Darling in Netarts OR; sisters Judith Burns in Langley WA, Maureen Cicola in Harrison Township MI, and Cathy (husband James) Muir in Springfield IL; several grandchildren; multiple nieces and nephews; good friends from every place he lived; and his beloved black cat, Luck.

Michael contributed to a wide range of organizations throughout his life, including environmental, social justice, and community outreach groups. Remembrances may be made to the Coastal Interpretive Center in Ocean Shores or the charity of your choice.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 31, at 12 noon at the Elks Lodge, 99 Ocean Lake Way SE, Ocean Shores, WA. A light lunch will be served. If you're unable to attend, remembrances may be sent to The Family of Michael Darling, PO Box 30555, Seattle WA 98113, or MDarling.memorial@gmail.com.