Shawn Paul Mastel | Passages

Shawn Paul Mastel, beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2023, at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, in Bellingham, Washington. He was 46 years old.

Shawn was born in Yakima, Washington, on June 19, 1976, on Father’s Day. A handsome, blue-eyed baby boy, Shawn was a pretty quiet kid. He never really made a fuss or complained too much.

He was obsessed with being a cowboy when he was little. Some of his first school photos are of him in a Western shirt with a bandana. Well, he got his wish because he grew up on a cattle ranch in Zillah, Washington. He was always out there working the cattle with his dad, helping to change the sprinkler pipes, or digging up thistles, all while getting pretty much straight A’s in school. He attended the Zillah school district, until graduating in 1994, from Zillah High School.

Shortly after that, he moved to the big city of Yakima. He shared a house with a couple of friends while attending classes at YVCC and working at The Olive Garden. It wasn’t long until a bigger city called to him. Once he moved to Seattle, that was it, he was in LOVE!! He loved all the people, all the places and all the things it had to offer. He was a huge Seattle sports fan. The Seahawks, The Mariners, The Sounders, he loved and cheered for them all.

He created a life for himself, working in the service industry for 30 years. He worked at a few restaurants, bartending and serving until he eventually worked his way up to becoming a manager. First, at Buca di Beppo, and then at McCormick and Schmick’s. He gained quite a few close friends along the way — Jesse, Lacey, Ian and Adam to name a few. They spent many nights barbecuing on the grill, playing with Reba, Shawn’s Goddog, and cheering on the Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders!

Shawn eventually moved to Orcas Island in 2018. He loved the beauty and serenity of the Eastsound. He made tons of friends and gained a few more chosen family members, his best buds, Dale, Justin, Rachel and Marcus. Shawn is and was very loved on that island. He will be deeply missed by his family and the many, many friends he leaves behind.

Shawn is survived by his father and mother, Mike and Connie Mastel, sister, Trish Ewell, her husband Chuck, and nephew Gage, sister, Shelli Dion, her husband Craig, and nephew and niece Mason and Ally. He is also survived by numerous friends and chosen family members from all over Zillah, Yakima, Seattle and Orcas Island.

A private celebration of life will be held in Yakima at a later date. A local memorial service will be on May 10 at 3 p.m. at the White Horse Pub.

Shaw & Sons Funeral Home is caring for the family. Memories and condolences can be shared at www.shawandsons.com.