Michael Edward Sanchez

Michael Edward Sanchez, 57, passed away on Thursday, April 11 in Reno, surrounded by his family.

Mickey or “Uncle Mick,” as he was known to most, was born on July 31, 1961 in Tonopah, Nev. the youngest of four children to Ines and Marjorie (Leef) Sanchez. He was an enrolled member of the Walker River Paiute Tribe and resided in Schurz for most of his life.

Mick graduated high school in Gabbs where he met his first wife Susanne Brown (Bogdon). They share two children: Christopher and Tarah. After following work in mining and moving his family to Schurz, Mick eventually met and fell in love with Elaine Black Horse. Together, they share a son: Jordan.

A talented artist and musician, Mick attended art school in Oakland, Calif. and played bass guitar for many years in the band Free Cloud, alongside his brother, Stan. He was especially proud to have rocked the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco and play among many other great musicians, including the late Floyd Red Crow Westerman, at the annual American Indian Music Festival in California in the 80’s and 90’s. He met a lot of people and made a lot of friends through his love of rock and roll, his free-spiritedness, and due to the simple fact that he was a genuinely kind-hearted, caring, and immensely funny man, always full of jokes and spreading laughter. He will be truly missed.

Mick was preceded in death by his mother in 1998 and father in 2018. He is survived by his children: Christopher (Jafeth) Sanchez (Reno), Tarah Sanchez (Sparks) and Jordan Black Horse (Black Hills, S.D.); siblings: Antonia (John) Cardenas (Hawthorne), Arthur (Margie) Sanchez (Schurz) and Stanley Sanchez (Schurz); grandson Javan Sanchez and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

As per his wishes for a more intimate family gathering, a private graveside memorial will be held at a later date in Schurz.