Stan L. Shields

Stan L. Shields (71), of Rawlins, Wyoming; Anchorage, Alaska; and throughout Washington State; passed away on Friday, January 20, 2023 after an extended battle with dementia, and surviving two types of cancer. He was surrounded by his daughters in person or virtually.

Stan was born to Elvera Shields (Jantzen) and Lyle Shields, on November 15, 1951, in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from Cascade High School in the 1970s and then attended a number of continuing education programs. He attended Cannon Beach Bible School; Seattle Pacific and Everett Community for his Associates, and Central College for his Bachelor's degree. After graduating he obtained employment at a number of companies, including United States Coast Guard Reserves (1975-2005); Washington State Department of Agriculture (1980), VRCA in Anchorage Alaska (1991-1994); and he started his own Hazmat training company called RCT. He also managed to find time to help people with taxes through AARP, and did small jobs with nonprofits and Christian organizations.

He was very proud of serving his country in the United States Coast Guard. He began his patriotic service in May 1975 and retired after 30 years in August 2005 as a CWO4 (Chief Warrant Officer). His years of service brought him throughout Washington State, Yorktown Virginia, and Alaska while on active duty and reserves service. It was The Exxon Valdez oil spill that brought him to Alaska where he moved his family and eventually retired.

Throughout his life, he was passionate about giving back and volunteering his time. He would often send donations to Nonprofits and Christian organizations, such as Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse, Focus on the Family, Etc and would volunteer his time with LoveInc and Recovery Alaska in Anchorage Alaska.

His hobbies were hiking in the mountains, spending time outside in God's creation, working on his photography skills, skiing and time in the snow, and probably most of all, loved spending time with his family, especially his four daughters.

Stan is survived by his four daughters, Rebekah (Tim) Osborne, Ranae (James) Johnston, Rachel (Andrew) Gregory, and Regina Shields. He is also survived by his sister, Marsha (Jim) Lemoine,various nieces and nephews,  and his seven grandkids (Sammuel Johnston, Danielle Johnson, Joshua Osborne, Ethan Johnston, Jonathan Osborne, Janessa Osborne, Jazlynn Osborne), and former wife of 25 years, Janine Hayes. He is predeceased by his parents, Elvera Shields (Jantzen) and Lyle Shields; sister Lynn McCosh, Brother Henry Shields, Nephew Joseph McCosh, and Grandson Jaxton Osborne.

Those that know him well, probably remember his dry sense of humor, intense seriousness, friendly and goofy nature, desire to help and serve people, love for his God, and love for his four daughters. Even to the end, the love for his daughters was one of the last things he would continually tell the nursing home staff about. He would point to their pictures and tell the staff how lucky he was to have such a wonderful and beautiful family. His daughters fondly remember his quote to them TCDWLGD - “Take Care, Don’t Worry, Let God Direct.”

Stan’s final wishes were to be placed in the Veterans section of the Cle Elum Cemetery, which is where the Coast Guard Member Douglas Munro is buried (the only Coast Guard member to receive the Medal of Honor). A memorial service is planned for the afternoon of July 5, 2023 in Cle Elum Washington on July 5th at 2pm, at Laurel Hill Memorial Cemetery, 119 West First Street, Cle Elum, WA 98922. Reception to follow, location TBD.  Please contact his daughter, Ranae Johnston for more details at ranae.johnston@gmail.com or 307-321-6663.

In Lieu of Flowers or gifts, please consider a small donation to help his daughters honor his final wishes to be placed to rest in the Cle Elum Cemetery, since he did not have many earthly possessions or funds available at time of his passing. You can donate through Paypal to ranae.johnston@gmail.com, or Venmo to @Ranae-Johnston. He would also encourage you to consider donating time or financial support to help others, or one of his favorite organizations, like Samaritan's Purse or Focus on the Family.

If you wish to send condolences or cards, you may send them to any of his daughters:

Ranae Johnston (Executor)

2993 Lerwick Dr

Rawlins, WY 82301

Rebekah (Becky) Osborne

1415 SW 10th St

Dallas, OR 97338

Rachel Gregory

PO Box 1352

Lovelock, NV 89419

Regina Shields

4631 Juneau St Apt 19

Anchorage, AK 99503

Here is what Stan hoped to be remembered by:

He did not always follow in Man's ways, because he followed Jesus.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
• Psalms 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
• Psalms 119: 9-11 “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.  With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
• Psalms 1:1-6 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.