After a heroic fight with cancer, Michael Jay Brinton, 57, passed away on Aug. 3, 2015 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The sorrow he leaves behind will be offset by the joy of those who are waiting for him in Heaven, and the knowledge of continuing Life Hereafter. While he will be greatly missed, we rejoice that he will be at rest without mortal pain and concerns. He was the fourth child born to Emerson and Eve Brinton on May 6, 1958, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He attended Idaho Falls High School and earned a degree in horticulture from Brigham Young University. He served an LDS mission to Louisiana and Mississippi. On April 19, 1991, he married Barbara Frazier in the Idaho Falls Temple. They have three children, Elisa Dianne, Erika Ruth, and Jacob Stott. The family has resided in beautiful North Idaho the past 15 years. Mike enjoyed life, always ready with a quick wit, joke, and positive attitude, regardless of his situation and trials, which often inspired awe and respect in others. He was a humble man who never fully realized the many lives he touched for good. He worked for the federal government for over 25 years, primarily with the Social Security Administration from which he recently retired. Mike had four great passions in his life. One was gardening, which grew out of his horticulture degree. Mike always had one of the best backyard gardens - full of wonderful fruits, vegetables and flowers. He also bottled all of the surplus produce and taught others that skill. Another passion was genealogy work. He spent many hours searching for names and information to complete the family trees for both his own and his wife's families. Much of his work took him to the Norwegian branch of his family which led to reuniting with Norwegian cousins. His latest great passion was scouting. He spent his last years working to make the local scouting program rewarding and fun. He formed deep friendships with other scout leaders as they worked to mold young boys into good men. He always cherished being an Eagle Scout and wanted to share that goal with others, especially his son, Jacob. His deepest and most profound passion was his family. He loved them deeply and would do anything for them. He expressed how sad he was that he had to leave them so soon, yet he knows that they will work hard to implement the skills and values that he left with them, and that they will be together again, for Families are Forever. In addition to his wife and children, Mike is survived by his mother Eve, sisters, Victoria and Corrine, and brother Mark (Nancy) Brinton, plus nieces, nephews, and further extended family and friends who love him. Services will be held Thursday, Aug. 6 at noon at the LDS Fourth Ward Chapel, 2150 E. 16th Ave., Post Falls. Viewing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. the evening before at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls, and at the LDS church one hour prior to the service on Aug. 6. Interment will take place at 12 Noon, August 8th, 2015 in the Grant Central Cemetery in Grant Idaho. We would like to thank Dr. Brian Samuels and all the kind professionals at Northwest Oncology and North Idaho Hospice for their loving and gentle care.