Michelle (Mickey) S. Maxam-Moore, 74, of St Petersburg, Florida passed away on July 18th, 2025 after a short but hard-fought battle with a rare pneumonia. Mickey was born January 27th , 1951 in Seattle, WA to father Robert Owen Moore and mother Mildred (Leishman) Moore. In January of 1990 Mickey celebrated a Holy Union ceremony with Valerie Maxam at their church in Tacoma, WA. 19 years later, they were finally able to legally marry. They were married on October 15th , 2009 in Burlington, Vermont. They spent 35 adventure-filled years together.

Mickey is survived by her wife Valerie, brothers Mark and Monty, and nieces Erin and Jaleane.

Mickey started her work life as a Medical Technologist and Blood Banking specialist. She later pursued a long time interest in real estate appraisal by completing her training and then opening her own very successful appraisal business. In 2006 she sold the business and moved with Valerie to St. Petersburg after they both realized they had “tropical souls” and fell in love with the “Sunshine City” on Florida’s beautiful west coast.

Mickey had a variety of skills and interests. A skilled accordion player as a kid under the guidance of Stan Boreson, she was honored to try out for the Lawrence Welk Show. She didn’t make the cut, but she never grew out of her love for music, becoming a skilled percussionist and marching band conductor in high school, teaching herself saxophone, and playing percussion for a local community band. Most recently she enjoyed attending many performances by The Florida Orchestra.

She had a passion for marine mammals and volunteered at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium in Tacoma, and again here in Florida at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). Both her and Val enjoyed a couple seasons of volunteering together to monitor sea turtle nests at night
on the local beaches for CMA.

Other passions included boating, fishing, coin collecting, and most recently, raising and releasing Monarch butterflies. The Monarchs became her “full time job” right up until she passed away. She raised and released over 400 Monarchs at last count.

Mickey lived life fearlessly and passionately, and never turned down the opportunity for a new adventure. She had a huge, generous, compassionate heart, a mischievous streak, and a soft spot for abandoned/rescued cats and dogs, adopting and loving well over a dozen of each over the years. She will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pet Pal Animal Shelter, 405 22nd St South, St. Petersburg, Fl 33712.