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Gary P. Shane, 70

Gary P. Shane went to be with the Lord on Oct. 10, 2017, after living an incredible life full of adventures, love, friendships and faith. He was 70 years old. He was born in Provo, Utah, on May 7, 1947, to Roy and Wilma Shane. Later his family moved to Youngstown, Ohio, where he grew up.

Gary was a strong, hard working, God-loving man, with a big heart and a great smile. He was ready to lend a hand to anyone that needed it and always ready for a hug.

In his early years, he worked in Yellowstone National Park as part of the road crew and maintenance. He would return several times during his life to visit the park that he loved so dearly. Gary was also a contractor and worked maintaining high-rise buildings in Chicago, the windy city, that he loved, and where he made several lifelong friends.

Gary fell in love with Idaho during a trip he made to Sandpoint in 1967 with his Yellowstone buddy and lifelong friend, Mike Thompson (Sandpoint). Together they drove all night to visit Mike’s family. Gary swore that one day he would return to North Idaho, and he did so in 1995. He married Claudya Greig in 2000 and together they had a private foster home, “Whiteley Meadows,” in the mountains of the small town of Clark Fork, Idaho. For years he fathered young men and troubled teens and he leaves behind a legacy of understanding, love and being a positive influence in their lives. He kept in touch with many of them and loved them as his own.

Gary loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing all his life. It was not uncommon for him to accompany young men or women on their first hunt, or teach kids how to fish or use a bow. He loved boating and towing kids on a tube behind it, camping every summer in Sam Owens with all the boys, sitting on a beach, traveling, cruising and being with people. He always had time to talk to his friends and was ready to meet new ones. He was caring, funny, helpful and knowledgeable. He also loved to cook. There were no better dinner rolls than his. His funny and amazing stories about his life experiences were always welcome at the dinner table or campfire.

Gary was preceded in death by his mother, Wilma Jean, father Roy Shane and sister Karry Johnson.

Gary is survived by his wife, Claudya Greig Shane; brother, Dean “Punchy” Shane; sister, “Minn” Shane; son, Ryan Patrick (Melissa); stepchildren, Paulino “Nino” (Carolina), Francesca “Baby”, Catalina (Juan); grandchildren, Jake, Brittany, Matias, Ben, Juan Domingo and Macarena; several nieces and nephews; many foster kids (now men and women) and great friends all over the country. He will be greatly missed.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017, at the English Funeral Chapel, 1133 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

Visit Gary’s memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.