Obituary of Michael Frank Daggett

Michael Frank Daggett, our beloved husband, and father, passed peacefully from this life on November 21, 2022. Our family grieves his loss but rejoices in the promise of eternal life. Mike was born May 19, 1946, in Ottumwa, Iowa, the second son of Orrin and Juanita (Brewer) Daggett. After graduation from Ottumwa High School in 1964, “The Dag” embarked on a year of over-participation in Hearts, both female and cards, at Northeast Missouri State University (NMSU) resulting in an inauspicious academic performance leading to one of the best decisions of his life: enlisting in the United State Army. After graduating from Officer Candidate School at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in 1967, Mike was assigned to A Battery 2nd Battalion 16th Artillery in Zirndorf, Germany, outside Nuremberg. There he met his future wife, Diana Miller, who was an army brat attending the University of Maryland in Munich. Her parents became his second family and treated him like their son. They married on December 27, 1969, and have shared a life of adventure and unconditional love. After leaving active duty, Mike and Diana returned to NMSU in Kirksville, Missouri where he rededicated himself to his studies and redeemed his academic reputation. In addition to attending the university, Mike continued his military service as commander of the local Missouri Army National Guard unit. After graduating from NMSU, Mike and Diana loaded up their Hornet and pulled a U-Haul trailer to the sun of Arizona where Mike started a career in the trucking industry with Ryder Systems. Along the journey, their greatest blessings came with the births of their son Matthew and daughter Allison. Together, the family created homes from Arizona to California, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. They eventually returned to Oregon where they retired. Throughout his life, Mike embraced several hobbies. His passion for genealogy helped many friends and family explore their history and solve family mysteries. His passion for photography and travel led to epic journeys around the United States and Europe that were captured in forever memories. But what family and friends will remember most is the cooking. Man, could he cook! And that kitchen was his domain. The dining table was the site of many gatherings of friends and family with wine and fine meals that lasted for hours with laughter and stories. As his grandniece, Ashton wrote, “Vodka chicken and the ‘wine with guests philosophy’ will stick with me for the rest of time.” There will be a banquet in heaven. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Orrin and Juanita Daggett, his brother Gary, and Bruce and Annemarie Miller, his in-laws. He is survived by his wife Diana, son Matthew, daughter Allison, grandson Tyler, his sister Nancy Wilson (Bob), his brother Randy Daggett, and many nieces and nephews. A private family service will be held at a later date.