R\W\Michael L. Sanders was born in Whittier, CA on July 5, 1955. Although his immediate family had no Masonic involvement, his grandparents were very active in Freemasonry and Eastern Star. One of his earliest memories is attending the Masonic picnic of his grandfather’s Lodge.
Mike was a rather independent and adventurous little boy who loved baseball, and, much to his parents’ chagrin, never hesitated to jump on his bike to ride all over the city of Downey, where his family lived, if there was someplace he wanted to go. He was even known to hop on a city bus to go to nearby Buena Park for a play day at Knott’s Berry Farm. He was also ambitious and willing to work for what he wanted. Once, when he was about eight years old, he saw a Timex watch at a local store that he felt he had to have. He spent the next several weeks going up and down his neighborhood mowing lawns, pulling weeds, and washing windows until he earned enough money to purchase it.
When he was 11 years old his family moved from Southern California to Washington, into an old farmhouse seven miles east of Woodland. He attended school in La Center and spent his time heavily involved in sports and working for local farms. He also worked in his family’s furniture repair business and, once he could drive, worked on Saturdays in Longview and Kelso, removing dents and scratches from furniture for local department and furniture stores.
After graduating from High School, Mike’s biggest goal was to get a college education. However, he did not have the financial means to pay for it, so he, along with his brother, Mark, enlisted in the Army to qualify for the GI Bill. He served his time on active duty, which included two years in Frankfurt, Germany, and upon his release immediately enrolled in college. He also joined the Army Reserves “for one year” to earn extra money. He finally retired from the Reserves nearly 30 years later as a Lieutenant Colonel. He ended his career with exclamation point by serving his country in the war in Iraq.
While in college his military and civilian lives became intertwined when he met and fell in love with a beautiful young Army Reserve Nurse named Patricia Anne Sicilia. They were married on December 16, 1978, and together raised three children: Pamela and Paula, who are both Past Honored Queens of Job’s Daughters Bethel 38 in Vancouver, and Jonathan, who is a past State Master Councilor of Washington DeMolay. Mike is especially proud that he was able to see each of his children graduate from college and begin their own careers and families.
Mike graduated from Clark College in Vancouver in 1978 with an Associate’s degree in Business and from the University of Portland in 1980 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He began working as a corporate accountant, which paid well but he hated. In 1988, Mike had surgery to remove a swollen lymph node and was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Large Cell Lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy for six months and beat the disease, but also realized that life is too short to spend doing something that makes you unhappy. So he left his job and went to work for a local CPA firm. In 1992, with Patty’s blessing, he started his own CPA practice, and though there have been ups and downs, he has never looked back.
While living in Grays Harbor in the early 1980s, Mike fulfilled a lifelong dream and became a Mason. He was raised a Master Mason in December, 1982 in Concord Lodge, No. 273, which is now a part of Grays Harbor Lodge, No. 52, in Hoquiam, WA. In 1985 the Sanders family moved back to Vancouver and he joined Washington Lodge, No. 4. Like many young men, Mike’s priorities had to be the needs of his young family, his career (both military and civilian), and his health, so he could only afford to be semi-active in his Lodge. That changed in 1992, shortly after he began his CPA practice, when he had more flexibility with his time and, more importantly, when his oldest daughter turned 11 years old and was ready to join Job’s Daughters.
Mike served as Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge, No. 4, in 1996. He was appointed to the Masonic Research and Education Committee in 1997, where he served for three years. This was followed by two years as Deputy of the Grand Master in District 19, two years as Grand Lecturer, one year as Grand Historian, and three years as Chairman of the Long Range Planning Committee.
Mike has had a long association with the Masonic youth groups. Among the positions he has held are Associate Guardian of Bethel 38, Rainbow Dad of Promise Assembly 41, DeMolay Advisor and Chairman of Vancouver Chapter, and the St. Helens Region Deputy of Washington DeMolay. One of his proudest accomplishments is being one of the co-founders of the Order of the Squires, for which he was named an Honorary Member of the Legion of Honor by the International Supreme Council of DeMolay.
He is also a 32nd Degree, KCCH member of Scottish Rite and the Treasurer of RiteCare of Washington, and a life member of Capilano Lodge, No.164 in North Vancouver, British Columbia.
Mike firmly believes that the best days of Freemasonry are not in our past, but are in our future. We just need the ability to dream of the great things we can accomplish, believe in the power of those dreams, and work to make them a reality.