Michael J. Hinkley

Michael J. Hinkley February 5, 1956 - July 18, 2021 Mike passed away Sunday morning, July 18, 2021. He was born February 5, 1956 in Auburn, CA to Joan and Edward Hinkley of Foresthill. Mike was a proud aortic dissection survivor, and spent the last years as a pioneer patient for aortic repair surgeries. Mike spent his childhood in Foresthill, CA and earned many lifelong friends growing up in a small town in the hills. His life experiences range from using an outhouse as a young child to trying to learn cell phone technology (frustrating) which impacted almost all aspects of his later life. He was very talented at fixing anything with a motor, and his occupations mirrored this; auto body repair, mechanics and truck driver. He enjoyed truck driving the most, and knew just about every back road from Vacaville to Tahoe. This allowed him to explore local history, which he augmented by reading books he found at the library. He was known to be excellent at delivering “one-liners,” which are remembered by many recipients’ years later. Although not a veteran, he reflected fondly of the time he worked on military bases as an independent contractor; Monterey during the Vietnam War, and Travis during Desert Storm. He volunteered as an E-Night worker for numerous elections, doing what he considered “his job.” He will be greatly missed by his wife and best friend, Christine, his big brother Wes, little sister Cindy, daughters Dee and Brandy, 4 grandchildren, 2 stepchildren, a step granddaughter, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, and many friends. Mike was predeceased by his mother, father, brother Allen Hinkley and granddaughter Haylee Radford. He will be interred in the family plot at Todds Valley Cemetery. The family is planning a celebration of life in October.