Shane Reinertsen was born on Oct. 12, 1954, in Salina, Kansas and raised in Hoquiam, Washington. She passed away on Sept. 12, 2022, at home, after a long battle with colon cancer.

She is survived by her husband David, her daughter Lisa, and her granddaughter Morgan who were the lights of her life.

Though her diagnosis of stage 4 in 2017 was grim, she was able to beat the odds and live five more amazing years of checking things off the bucket list. She mainly spent that time with her family and friends, letting them know how much she cared for them. She was also able to fill it with adventures like visiting the five national parks in Utah, Lake Tahoe, Santa Fe, Lake Chelan and even a trip to the Big Island of Hawaii.

A highlight from this time of her life was skydiving with her granddaughter in Vancouver, Canada and getting their very first tattoos together (though she didn’t keep up with her granddaughter who now has numerous).

Shane worked various jobs throughout the Harbor in her lifetime, from the Canton Cafe to 10 years of selling auto parts at Bailey’s service to teaching at the Quileute Tribal School in La Push. She loved her last 20 years of employment working at the Aberdeen Timberland Library where she met and made many friends while sharing her love of literature.

Though the library was very fulfilling for her, nothing was quite the gift that teaching English as a second language through Grays Harbor College was for her. Through 14 years of night classes, Shane met hundreds of people from all around the world whom she admired greatly and supported along their journeys.

After retiring, Shane spent her time volunteering at PAWS and maintaining her little free library in front of her house. Besides loving the animals at PAWS, she was a wonderful mom to many of her own pets, notably Ruby, Blue and Peanut.

Though Shane only had one daughter and one granddaughter, she was still blessed with a big family and an abundance of friends. From her dear sister-in -law, Karen, to her many little great-nieces and nephews, Shane was always in good company.

Shane led a wonderful life, riding her bike 14,000 miles on various rail trails, visiting Juel’s Nursery, being a huge Jason Mraz fan, and spending time in nature — whether hiking, camping, gardening, or birdwatching — she always had a love for the outdoors.

Shane inspired those around her with her compassion and gratitude that never seemed to waiver and will be deeply missed by many.

All are welcome at the celebration of her life to be held at the Lake Sylvia Legacy Pavilion on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022, from 1 to 4 p.m. There is parking and a shuttle bus running from Simpson Elementary School located at 519 Simpson Ave W.