Michael Scollard

Michael “Mike” Edward Scollard, 71, Klamath Falls, Oregon, arrived at the end of his life’s journey and crossed over into eternal peace on Monday, December 28, 2020, at his home surrounded by his husband and family members.  He had been valiantly battling acute myeloid leukemia for the past 18 months.

He was born in Drain, Oregon, on Thursday, December 26, 1949, to Edward Martin Scollard and Dorothy Louise Yegge Scollard.  Michael was the fourth of seven children.

There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial Service, and reception to follow at O'Hair-Wards Funeral Chapel on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 1:00 PM. Michael loved and embraced the “Aloha” Hawaiian culture and sprit.  We encourage you to wear Hawaiian Attire at his Memorial Service as we celebrate his life! 

In 1954, Michael moved with his parents to Mt. Vernon, Washington. There, he enjoyed his family’s frequent camping trips at Lake Goodwin during the summers, where he swam and participated in other outdoor activities. He worked in Stanwood, Washington, after school and on the weekends, cooking at the Viking Village Restaurant. He graduated from Burlington Edison High School in 1968. 

In high school he sang in the choir and was a member of the Drama Club. At a young age he fell in love with classic cars and hot rods and bought his first car, a 1967 Oldsmobile “4-4-2” Cutlass Coupe while still in high school.

After graduation he moved to Brooklyn, New York, with several friends, where he took in the sights and sounds of the city! He moved back to the West Coast and settled in Seattle, Washington, where he attended Seattle Beauty Academy. He also studied at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. While in beauty school, he worked at Ivar’s Fish House as the head cook on the night shift.  It was there that he created many of his signature dishes, which he also prepared regularly for his family and friends, being always willing to share his special recipes with anyone who asked.

After graduation from Seattle Beauty Academy, his first job was at Hair Unlimited in Seattle, which he later bought with Gary Niksich, a friend and classmate from the Seattle Beauty Academy.  The two of them then decided to open a salon in San Francisco. They moved there in 1974 and opened up Michael Gary and Company, which was located in the Potrero Hill District. After a few years, they acquired a larger space a block away and expanded their business.  In 1975, Michael attended the Vidal Sassoon Academy in Los Angeles, where he was trained in their exclusive principles of hair styling. 

After the untimely death of Gary Niksich, Michael purchased his partner’s interest in the salon and became its sole owner until he sold the business in 2008 and moved to Oregon.  He then started a hairdressing career in Klamath Falls, Oregon, working at Duo Designs, The Hair Company and More and then finally at Tangles Hair Salon where he retired in 2013.  Michael loved his career in hairdressing and barbering, which spanned more than 50 years. “A good hairdresser is cheaper than a therapist,” was one of his favorite sayings!

On April 15, 1997, while still in San Francisco, he met Gary F. Floyd and together they shared a life full of adventure.  The two of them loved gardening and they transformed the yard of their San Francisco home into a tropical paradise.  Going to flea markets in the Bay Area was a favorite pastime. They also spent many weekends hiking in the Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills and in the Marin Headlands.  They enjoyed spending time at Stinson Beach and Drakes Bay on the coast. The two of them loved going to Napa Valley for wine tasting and dining out at fine restaurants.  Following the passage of Federal laws in 2014, Michael and Gary were able to marry, and on June 13, 2014, they said “I do!” in the Grand Rotunda of the San Francisco City Hall. It was a day celebrated with family and friends followed by another celebration in Klamath Falls upon their return.  For their honeymoon they spent three glorious weeks in Italy traveling the countryside by train and taking in the sights of Rome, Florence and Venice.

During the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, Michael volunteered with the AIDS Foundation going to the homes of AIDS patients to cut and style their hair at no charge.  In San Francisco he was an advocate for “Act Up,” which promoted AIDS awareness.   He also participated in Pride Marches there and supported all of the movements to further gay rights.

Michael loved to travel and made twice yearly trips to Hawaii, where he visited with friends and shared vacations with his family.  He also visited Italy, Greece, Canada and Mexico.  Ireland was the next sight seeing adventure on his bucket list.  He traveled often to other places in Oregon, Washington and California to visit family members and friends.

Michael loved the holidays and enjoyed decorating the house for holidays and other special occasions.  He and Gary hosted many parties, meals and BBQ’s for family and friends as the two of them loved to entertain. There was never a shortage of food, and their parties always had a fun festive theme!  He was a wonderful cook and famous for his homemade caesar salad and dressing, clam chowder, seasonal soups, potato and pasta salads and ribs along with a variety of other dishes!

Michael loved listening to music, his taste in music ranging from Frank Sinatra to Hawaiian classics to jazz. He sang in the tenor section for the Klamath Chorale for several seasons, and he especially enjoyed performing with them in their annual holiday concerts. 

Over the past decade, Michael often worked behind-the-scenes at the Linkville Playhouse, primarily in hair styling and wig design on a variety of different productions, including Sweeney Todd, Cabaret, The Skin Of Our Teeth, Chicago and Jekyll & Hyde, among several others.   At the Ross Ragland Theater he designed hair and wigs for The Addams Family.   Michael was greatly admired for his talent and creativity, along with his liveliness and good humor. He was the recipient of several “Klammie Awards” for his work on various productions at the Linkville.

Michael loved classic cars and owned several, including his favorite, a 1955 Oldsmobile that his sister Joan named ‘Vonnie,” along with a 1967 Oldsmobile Cutlass convertible.

Every summer, he and Gary went to “Hot August Nights” car show in Reno, Nevada, where his classic 1955 was entered in the show.  He also participated in the Klamath Kruise’s annual “Show and Shine” and enjoyed dragging “The Gut” in the Saturday night downtown portion of that event. What he enjoyed most was giving his friends rides during the parade of cars.

Michael enjoyed restoring cars and took a lot of pride in caring for them as well, keeping them regularly washed and waxed!  His classic cars were given primary space in the garage while his daily driver often had to sit out in the weather!

Some of his favorite pastimes where growing flowers, vegetable gardening . . . especially his tomatoes, which he shared with neighbors, friends and clients. He grew orchids, made numerous home improvements, and tried his luck at the casinos, often winning.

He enjoyed going to antique stores as well as estate, garage and yard sales, always looking for a treasure or unique object, with which to decorate his home.  He owned more than 150 Hawaiian shirts, collected cat sculptures, and did we mention he had a large number of fedora hats! He loved wearing a hat especially a Santa hat during the holidays!

Michael enjoyed weekly lunches with friends, playing Bunco, going to museums and art galleries, attending performances at the Ross Ragland Theater and plays at the Linkville Playhouse, going to the movies and making predications on the Oscar winners!

He was proud of his Irish heritage and a very spiritual person. He did not fear death and had great faith that a cure for his cancer would come from the trial study in which he participated through the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. Following his stem cell transplant, the results were promising, but ultimately his leukemia persisted and finally took his life.  Michael was a 10-year survivor of prostrate cancer and participated in several Cancer Awareness walks here in Klamath Falls.

Michael and Gary enjoyed their winter home in Cathedral City, California, spending time with friends and family who came to visit. Not to mention the sunshine when it was snowing in Klamath Falls. Michael enjoyed his time by the pool soaking in the sun, reading, shopping and going out to lunch and the casinos.

To the end of his days, Michael never ceased loving unconditionally those who came into his life. He was a generous man who enjoyed helping those in need,  always taking care of his family and those close to him. Michael was a gentle soul with a subtle, but sometimes wicked, sense of humor.

Michael will be always remembered and greatly missed by his partner/husband of 23 years, Gary Floyd; brothers and sisters-in-law, Duane and Mary Scollard and Robert and Tammy Scollard; sister, Joan Scollard and Dave Edson; sister-in-laws, Sandy Scollard (Darrell), Wendy Scollard (Paul) and Terese Floyd Seals; mother-in-law, Winona M. Williams Floyd; 7 nephews, 10 nieces, and cousins and many treasured friends; and his beloved cats, Holly, Mr. Chaz, Ginger and Angel.

Michael was preceded in death by his former partner, Stephen Abrams in 1985; his parents, Edward and Dorothy Scollard; brothers, Darrell and Paul Scollard; sister and brother-in-law, Linda and Glen Crouter; nephews, David Crouter and Darren Scollard; and niece, Rebecca Scollard.

Another celebration of life memorial service will be held at a later date in the summer in Mt. Vernon, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Klamath Chorale, P.O. Box 7937, Klamath Falls, OR 97601.

Notes of condolence or sympathy should be addressed to Gary Floyd, 12341 Lupine Lane, Klamath Falls, OR 97603.