Shane Michael Reynolds
July 16, 1977 – June 16, 2023
Our hearts break, to announce the loss of Shane Reynolds of Lewiston Idaho. Shane was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend who lived a life we can all learn from. He succumbed to his death in the place he felt closest to God, in the Alaska remote wilderness on June 16, 2023. While there has been significant media coverage on his death, what is most important about Shane was how he lived. By always working hard to be his best, growing and leaving nothing undone. Shane earned the praise “well done” here on earth and without a doubt accepted those words as he was welcomed home in Heaven.
Shane was born July 16, 1977 in Nampa Idaho, a whopping 4.8 pounds at birth. At the young age of 17, he began his first job as a hunting/fishing guide, a journey that would span many seasons both professionally and personally. This was also a role that would introduce him to Alaska and big game guiding for moose, sheep, bear, goat and even navigating the Alaskan remote waterways for salmon.
In 2014, dedicated to personal growth, Shane bought his first jet boat. Having previously guided fishermen using a drift boat, this was an exciting and challenging step. The challenge was accepted and within the first year he was fishing for salmon and steelhead on the Clearwater River and putting his clients on fish proficiently. The most impressive and meaningful catch of Shane’s life occurred within a year when he landed the absolute love of his life, Gina (Post) Reynolds. To this day, there was no person Shane would rather hunt or fish with than Gina. They were an excellent team; Gina was arguably on the receiving end of “constructive coaching” when on the boat. Clients were “affectionately” given “the look” from Shane rather than too much verbal critical coaching.
Shane worked hard at his craft, building his business with consistent effort with the ultimate goal of providing for his family. He was dedicated to Gina and they married July 2015. One year later July 22, 2016 Shane became “daddy” when he and Gina welcomed Juliette Sage Reynolds into the world. It was not a rarity to see the Reynolds trio fishing, hunting, hiking or long range shooting together.
Shane was a man of incredible physical strength even surviving a grizzly bear attack in 2019. But despite that toughness he was never afraid to shower words of affection and devotion to his two favorite girls. Shane’s strength also spanned across his character and faith. He was confident and humble enough to talk faith in Jesus if the topic presented itself and was never too prideful to admit a fault, buy an apology coffee for his wife and use his own journeys and victories through struggle to support somebody needing the help.
To know Shane was also to witness a man who left nothing undone. At the end of any trip, ask any guide who watched him work and they will tell you everything was clean, had a place and was in its place. His boat floor cleaner than most kitchen floors. During every distant hunt, still taking care of the emotional needs of home and going out of his way to tell people they meant something to him. That which made him so special will also be what is so missed by those he leaves behind.
He will be welcomed in his passing by his grandfather Richard, his father Rick, and brother Brett.
At the WSGA executive board meeting July 10th, 2023, the executive board unanimously voted to honor Shane with a posthumous perpetual membership to the Washington State Guides Association.