Michael Jerry McQuain

Michael Jerry McQuain, 67, of Provo, Utah, passed away on June 25, 2023, due to renal failure.

Michael was born on June 15, 1956, to Gerald McQuain and Marilyn Blackburn in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Though technically an only child, he shared an especially close, sibling-like relationship with his aunt, Linda “Ya-Ya” Blackburn, throughout his entire life. He spent many happy summers with his grandparents in both Eastern Idaho and Colorado. The moment his father brought home his first pet cats, Yul and Brynner, his life-long love of animals was born. In 1963, his family relocated to Reno, Nevada, where his curiosity and mischievous nature led to his nearly burning down the family home, driving his grandfather’s truck into the neighbor’s house, and distributing the private family phone number of his future wife, Betty, for which he was sent to the principal’s office.

As a young man, Michael loved going to the beach, playing sports, and socializing with friends. He was always passionate about music–his favorite bands included the Beach Boys and Eagles among many others. In high school, he was involved in drama and Acapella choir and thrived in the spotlight. His enthusiasm for live performance and a love of football led to his goal of becoming a television sportscaster, which he accomplished, receiving numerous awards for both print and broadcast journalism.

After graduating from Alhambra High School in 1974, Michael attended Brigham Young University for one year prior to serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the France Toulouse mission. Following his mission, he returned to BYU to pursue a degree in journalism. He walked on to the football team during his sophomore year, and remained a die-hard BYU football fan throughout his life. After obtaining his degree in December of 1982, he began a 25-year-long television career, which led him to network affiliates in Idaho, Oregon, Arizona, and Washington.

Michael married Betty Hawkins in the St. George Utah Temple on February 18, 1978. Together, they had four children: Nicole, Tiffany, Courtney and Caitlin. He loved his daughters and greatly appreciated the relationship they had in the sunset of his life.

In 2003, Michael retired from broadcasting. Realizing another lifelong dream (becoming a fighter pilot) was not feasible, he did the second best thing he could think of: earning his wings by becoming a flight attendant for United Airlines. He made it his personal quest to help ease the stress of mothers traveling with young children, always keeping his daughters and grandchildren in mind, he said, and working to ensure that “fly the friendly skies” was more than a platitude.

Following his time with the airline industry, Michael started a new career as an entrepreneur, owning and operating an executive chauffeuring service, which gave him the opportunity to create a clientele of wonderful individuals, and spend dedicated time each year at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. After enjoying years as an avid movie buff, he made his acting debut in commercials, eventually appearing in several Hallmark movies as well as the blockbuster hit his grandchildren are most proud of, “High School Musical 2.”

In 2016, Michael married Judith Connolly and started his final adventure. Michael and Judy loved going to concerts, movies, and out to dinner. They had many opportunities to travel and visit family. One of their favorite trips was their visit to Hawaii in 2021. They lived together in Provo, Utah, where Michael spent his final days.

Michael was predeceased by his mother, Marilyn Blackburn McQuain, and his grandparents, Ernest Guy and Lois Demmel McQuain, and Lee Josiah and Pauline Wood Blackburn. He is survived by his wife Judith McQuain; his children Nicole (Boone) Terry, Tiffany (Abram) Collard, Courtney (Tony) Stallings, Caitlin (Anthony) Abbott; his grandchildren Rylan, Keaton, and Branik Terry; McKinley, Calum, Ethan, Emma, and Alette Collard; Brinlee, Claire, and Kaita Lennberg and Hudson and Hattie Stallings; his father, Gerald Ernest McQuain; his Aunt Linda (John) Carlton; his cousins Lee, Landon, and Lane Shumway; and his former spouse Betty McQuain.

The family has chosen to privately remember Michael.