Brian Poley

Brian Earl Poley died on March 6th, 2026 in the beautiful log home that he designed, created and built in Bellaire, Michigan. Everywhere you looked around you could see his talent and handiwork. He was 56 years old and had just recovered from knee surgery and was looking forward to returning to fishing, hunting, and being in the UP.

He was born in Tecumseh and raised in the countryside of Tipton, MI where he spent hours playing outside, sliding, hunting, skiing with his Mom, playing with his good friend Phil Smith, and hunting with his dog Babe. There wasn't anything he couldn't master outside. He was a master fisherman and hunter as you could see from looking at the walls of his home. He graduated from Tecumseh High School where he was successful at field and track sports, especially the discus, where he held school records. He got his first motorcycle at age seven and in his teens raced motorcycles and his three-wheeler. 

Brian was an avid golfer and really enjoyed the sport of the game. He spent most of his summers up north on Cooks Lake. He loved the lake, his friends and really came to life there. He attended Western Michigan University and then transferred to Northern Michigan but always found himself pulled to the woods in November for deer hunting.

Brian was an incredible musician, playing the drums early on and then in a band, then in the privacy of his own home, you could often hear him singing "I'll follow you" (Shinedown) while playing. He was such a smart man, creative and funny, he could have made a living doing stand-up comedy but instead teased his friends of which he had many. He resided in Bellaire but had friends from all over and kept in touch with many of them with daily phone calls and chats about the weather. He had a good heart and cared for many, and he will be deeply missed. He could be an acquired taste, but he always had enough love to go around and had no trouble telling his truth. He was a man of faith and kept good track of those he loved. 

Brian's lifelong companion was his beloved Jett Dog. They were quite a pair and he loved her deeply. She followed him everywhere he went and it broke his heart when it was time for her to go. He always said she was impossible to replace and he never did.  He was an inventive builder, not only creating his own home from top to bottom but doing specialized woodworking on his own and with other contractors. Unfortunately his hip and knee sidelined him from working in the business in recent years. 

Brian was preceded in death by his father, Dermont E. Poley, Jr. and mother Barbara Lou Poley (Donaldson), grandparents Beatrice and Levi Donaldson and Dermont E. & Esther Poley. 

He is survived by his sister Pam Poley (Tom Owen) and his nephew Zachary Owen (Katie Owen).

His many and loving friends were deeply surprised by his sudden death and we are all still recovering and remembering the many ways he loved us. His friendships mattered the most to him in this lifetime and there were many.

If you are moved to make a contribution in Brian's name, we suggest Trout Unlimited, or any organizations that support young musicians, fishermen and hunters. He was always a teacher, hopefully he still is sharing his wisdom in heaven.

Arrangements are in the care of the Bellaire Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes.  Please sign his online guestbook at www.mortensenfuneralhomes.com