Michael Dee Hagood

Michael Dee Hagood, 68, passed away peacefully on Saturday, May 23, 2026 in Boise, Idaho.

On Monday, July 20th, at 1:00PM a Celebration of Life will be held at Bowman Funeral Directors located at 10254 W. Carlton Bay Drive, Garden City, ID.

Mike was Born July 19, 1957 to Julian and Naomi Hagood in Nampa, ID. The family moved in 1963 to the big city (Boise) to take advantage of career opportunities in education.

Mike is survived by his Mother, Naomi Hagood of Boise; his daughters Tiffany Hagood (Dillon) of Lake Stevens, WA and Jade Hagood of Boise; his grandsons Kaleb, and Zach Rogers of Lake Stevens, WA and granddaughter Julian Rogers of Lake Stevens, WA; and brothers Gary (Susan) of Ballground, GA and Greg Hagood of Boise. He was preceded in death by his Father, Julian Hagood.

Mike graduated from Capital High School in 1975. His athletic accomplishments at Capital included football - All SIC 1st team cornerback and All SIC 2nd team wide receiver; Wrestling – 2nd place at State. Baseball – All SIC 1st Team Shortstop. Culminating his time at Capital, Mike was recognized with the Larry Sandmeyer “Athlete of the Year” award. He also earned a baseball scholarship to Point Loma Nazarene College in San Diego, CA.

Mike was a highly respected member of the martial arts community in the Treasure Valley, remembered not only for his skill, but also the mentorship he provided to countless students. His journey in Kenpo Karate began in Boise, Idaho in 1981, opening a studio of his own in 1986 in a modest rented space in Meridian, Idaho. In 1992, he purchased a former church, establishing a location that would become a Meridian landmark. A formidable competitor, Mike was invited to join Team USA in 1993, securing team and individual championships in Ireland. He cemented his reputation on the international stage by returning to Europe in 1995 to lead team USA to another victory. Throughout his life, Mike sought excellence and integrity, finding a kindred spirit in his instructor, Paul Dye. Through his unwavering work ethic, Mike trained multiple generations of successful students, many of whom became instructors and studio owners, carrying on his legacy. In 2017, his lifetime of achievement and commitment to the art were formally recognized with his induction into the Kenpo Karate Hall of Fame. He finished his martial arts career as an eighth-degree black belt, having built one of the era’s most successful studios by any measure.

Beyond these accolades, Mike will be remembered as a man of honor whose influence reached far beyond the studio, leaving an indelible impact on the lives of those he trained and mentored. He remains one of the most respected martial arts and community figures of the Treasure Valley and well beyond.

An important part of Mike’s life were his adrenaline-fueled adventures on a motorcycle, from his beloved Honda Valkyrie, to his Gold Wings and finally the bike that allowed him take full advantage of his riding skills and need for speed: a BMW GTL 1600. These bikes were the cornerstone of his rides covering over 100,000 miles including trips to Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Sturgis South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and Canada, usually at full throttle!

When Mike retired from Kenpo karate he was showing signs of the brain disorder that took him from us. In 2018 Mike moved into Daughter Tiffany’s home on Whidbey Island WA and on to Lake Stevens, WA in 2019. Mike was blessed to have a few good years living with his daughter and grandchildren. He loved driving the kids to their sports; helping with homework; and attending all the school events.

Inevitably, his condition progressed and it was necessary to return to Boise as a resident of Grace Assisted Living. He moved from Independent Living to Assisted living and on to memory care all at Grace. In Boise, his daughter, Jade, took over managing all matters of his Grace and Boise life.

The family would like to thank Suzy Thompson and Norm Brown for their relentless pursuit of elevating Mike’s experience through this difficult time to include sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The family also thanks the professionals at Grace and Hospice for their compassionate care for our Son, Father, Brother, Friend and Mentor - Mike Hagood