Michael Willard Nash

Michael W. Nash died on April 30, 2024, in Las Vegas, Nevada, of respiratory illness. He endured to the end after several years of declining health.

Mike was born August 6, 1954, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Karl and Rita Nash. His arrival was greeted with joy after his mom had suffered several miscarriages and the early death of an older brother. Mike graduated from Highland High School in 1972, where he was involved in the drum corps and wrote for the school paper (and tried out for the track team despite a club foot, which caused the track coach to say, “The kid has more heart than anyone I’ve ever seen”). He attended BYU and graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in political science. He lived in Salt Lake City until 2000, then moved to Las Vegas, where he loved the weather (and didn’t miss the snow).

Mike married Liz Perryman; they were later divorced. He was a dedicated foster dad to Brian Hill and was a positive influence for years after Brian grew up.

Mike suffered from chronic depression throughout his life, which he bore with perseverance and grit. His good heart was always inclined toward others. He loved his immediate and extended family, politics, and traveling. Some of his favorite destinations: Tahiti, the Bahamas, Russia, England, various parts of Europe, Mexico, New Zealand, Washington, DC, and the Nixon Library in Yorba Linda, CA. He also loved his dog Roxy, lunches with his friends and brothers, Richard Nixon, Henry Kissinger, and Ronald Reagan.

Mike was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is survived by his brothers Richard (Laurie) and Scott (Kathy), foster brother Norm (Bequi) Brown, former foster son Brian, his nieces, and nephews, and two especially devoted cousins, Reta, and Brent Tischner.

A memorial service will be Monday, May 6, at 11 a.m. at Bunker’s Mortuary, 925 Las Vegas Boulevard North, Las Vegas, NV, 89101. To access a livestream of the service... One Room

A graveside service will be Friday, May 10, at 2 p.m. in the Salt Lake City cemetery on Oquirrh Avenue (425 North 940 East in the cemetery’s northwest corner).