Craig Michaud

Craig Michaud, 75, of Ellensburg, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the KVH Hospital. His memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 4, 2024 in the Evenson Memorial Chapel at Johnston & Williams in Ellensburg.

Craig was born on July 25, 1949 in Whitefish, Montana. He grew up in Montana before the family moved west to Issaquah where he graduated from Issaquah High School in 1967. Following graduation, he began working for the Great Northern Railroad doing track maintenance before being drafted into the United States Army in 1969.

Craig completed basic training at Fort Lewis in Tacoma before being transferred to Fort Knox, Kentucky to receive his advanced armor and cavalry training. He was assigned to serve with the 11th Cavalry, Black Horse Regiment, E Squad. On November 9, 1969, while serving in the Quan Loi, Bein Hoa area of Vietnam, he was injured in combat. He was awarded a Purple Heart for the injuries he sustained and was also awarded a Conduct in Battle medal. 

Following his honorable discharge in March of 1971, Craig returned to working for the Great Northern Railroad as a lineman for 11 years. He then worked briefly as an electrician before getting into industrial laundry service and repair, working for a couple different companies selling and servicing commercial laundry equipment. 

Craig married Liz (Bolster) Householder on May 13, 1994 in a small family ceremony. Each had been married previously but they were able to blend their families together easily. In 1998, Craig and Liz moved to Ellensburg where they owned and operated Black Horse Service & Repair before opening Superior Cleaners in 2003 and purchasing Model KE Cleaners in 2005. They closed Black Horse in 2018 and recently consolidated Superior with Model KE.

Craig was an avid writer and loved to compose short stories and poems. He was also an amazing cook and his family will remember his shrimp creole as being their favorite dish he would make, from scratch, without a recipe. He also enjoyed being outdoors, riding his bicycle frequently and being out on the golf course.

Perhaps the most important thing to Craig was his family and he loved spending time with all of them. He would frequently put together big family gatherings with lots of food, fun and laughter.

Craig is survived by his wife, Liz Michaud of Ellensburg; children Rick Householder of Ellensburg, Jason (Kristin) Michaud of Snohomish, Cindy Bacon of Ellensburg and Teri (Jason ) Stahl of Marysville; grandchildren Ashley (Cole Ridley) Bacon of Renton, Cody (Ryen Pilialoha) Michaud of Kansas City, Missouri; Jordan (Kylee Harbison) Stahl of Ellensburg, Tyler (Kali) Michaud of Butte, Montana and Katelynn Bacon of Ellensburg; and great grandchildren Ezra, Bexley, Dakota and Peyton. He is also survived by his mother, Bernadine Michaud of Long Beach and siblings Nick, Melanie, Lily, Kevin and Jeff.

He was preceded in death by his father Donald; his sister Lori; and his son-in-law Mike Bacon.

Memorial contributions in Craig’s honor are sugged to the Kittitas County Veteran’s Coalition, 507 N Nanum St Ste 117, Ellensburg, WA 98926 or to any charity that actively helps and supports our nation’s Veterans.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnston & Williams of Ellensburg. Online condolences may be left at www.johnston-williams.com