Michael Scott Harley

Michael S. Harley passed away unexpectedly on April 5th, 2018 at his home in Cathlamet, Washington. He was born in 1956 in Loma Linda California to Ted Harley and Margaret Simmons. While young, he and his family moved between California and Washington State, until he graduated from Helix High School in 1974, when he permanently moved back to Washington. 

         He truly loved the ocean and spent 23 years commercial fishing in the Bering Sea, and locally from Chinook and Ilwaco.

         For the past 18 years, he was a Port Engineer for Harley Marine Services/Olympic Tug & Barge in Portland.

On August 24, 2002, he and the love of his life, Carol Penttila-Finlay, were married on the F/V Gail Renee, in the Columbia River.

Michael volunteered for years with the Derby Dollars for Scholars fishing derby, affectionately known then, as the “Chicken Man”. He loved to cook, fish and go camping at “The Rock”, and listen to music, which he would spend hours discussing with his nephew Jason, with whom he had a special bond.

He also loved being Papa and Grandpa to Emily and Alina Ashe, Blake Finlay and Addison Blain.

In addition to his wife and grandchildren, he is survived by daughter Missy Harley, son Chris Harley, and step-son Justin Finlay, all of Naselle.

Also surviving, his sister Jody Zumwalt (Randy), brother Joe Slayton (Kara), niece Jennifer Gaynor (Andrew) and all the nephews, Jimmy, Jackie, and Justin Murphy, Jesse and Johnny, Jason Harley (Nova), and a lot of extended family.

Besides his parents, Michael was preceded in death by a brother Jack Murphy and nephew Jeffrey.

An informal celebration of his life will be held on Saturday April 21, at 1:00pm, on the beach of the Columbia River, 2115 Altoona-Pillar Rock Road, Rosburg Washington.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the South Pacific County Humane Society, P. O. Box 101 Long Beach, Washington 98631 or the Wahkiakum Fire Department, P. O. Box 766 Cathlamet Washington 98612.