Mikhail Ray Daughtrey

Mikhail “Misha” Ray Daughtrey, 37, of Mesa, Arizona, passed away unexpectedly at home on October 11, 2026. Born in Livingston, New Jersey on July 2, 1989, he was the beloved youngest son of David and Doe Daughtrey.

Misha was creative, fabulously weird, and brilliant. He could talk with you about international politics, classical music, physics, art, or literature, sometimes all in one conversation, and he brought a deep introspection to everything he did. His big red beard, touched with grey in recent years, was his trademark, and he was often seen wearing an entire outfit in his signature color purple. Mesa was always home, but Portland, Oregon held a special place in his heart, and it was there he made many lifelong friends.

Music was a defining part of Misha's life from an early age; he started playing the piano at age five and took up the cello in the fourth grade. He studied cello performance at Arizona State University, performed at weddings and special events, and even played cello on a song by the punk rock band Skull Drug. He played at home and could often be found sitting down to play impromptu at any piano he came across. He loved tracking down new, difficult pieces and mastering them for no other reason than to prove he could.

Misha served in the Army National Guard with the 422nd Signal Company as a satellite communications systems operator and was honorably discharged. Serving as a gay man under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was not an easy fit, but he did it with pizzazz and competence. His curiosity took him in many directions. He studied molecular biology at Portland State University, studied for a massage therapy license, worked in customer service for World of Warcraft at Blizzard Entertainment, and most recently worked at a craft beer store.

Misha was always for the underdog. He was deeply committed to educating others about, and advocating for, oppressed people around the world, including Indigenous communities in Arizona, the Palestinian people, and anyone facing persecution or suffering. He had a soft heart for animals and was frequently helping friends and families by watching their pets when they traveled.

One of Misha’s great loves was his Dungeons and Dragons group, his second family, who gathered every Monday night for their adventures. There he was most recently known as Finnergan. A lifelong gamer and world traveler, Misha visited many countries with his family over the years. He also was an avid reader of fiction and non-fiction, and particularly loved sci-fi and horror genres.

Above all, Misha was a sweet, sensitive soul who gave the best hugs. Everyone who was lucky enough to be wrapped up in one knew exactly how much he cared, and those hugs are what his family and friends will miss most.

Misha is survived by his parents, Doe and David Daughtrey; his sisters, Tatiana and Natasha; his Monday night adventuring party; his online community; many dear friends around the country and the world; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sister, Astrid, and his brother, Dominic.

A Memorial Service will be held on October 20, 2026 at 10 a.m. at Bunker Family Funerals. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (pcrf.net), a cause he cared deeply about.

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