Shawn Gerald McFaul

1969 - 2025

Duyck & VanDeHey Funeral Home Forest Grove

Shawn Gerald McFaul

( November 16, 1969 - August 12, 2025 )

Shawn McFaul, 55, a Portland resident, left a wake of loving kindness upon his death. The ripple effects are far and wide, across generations, through hearts everywhere he went, in nature, and among animals, wildlife, and birds, especially owls. His presence was a warm hug. His hands were God's gift, creating beauty, harmony, and joy by sculpting, drawing, painting, cooking, and with woodworking, as a lifelong artist.

Over the years, Shawn created two companies, Bedrock Builders and Blue Moon Design & Production. He also worked for two others, McCarthy Construction and Fortis Construction. He was part of crews who remodeled the Space Needle in Seattle, built the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Salem, and constructed some of the first data centers in Oregon and New Mexico.

Shawn's hands also held his children, Nate and Camille McFaul, first cradled as babies, later their hands in his, later still wrapping around them in a bear hug as a stay-at-home Dad, ahead of his time. He was home to them and his wife, Katherine Heekin, whom he met at the University of Oregon. He was studying architecture while she attended law school. On their first date, the waiter thought they were newlyweds. Shawn was the glue to his wife's law firm, designing and building custom furniture, designing and developing marketing materials, functioning as an office manager, and so much more.

Shawn was quick to lend a hand as well. He built bathrooms, picnic tables, and a pagoda for different schools attended by his children. He made one-of-a-kind pieces of art to auction at school fundraisers. He was an assistant basketball coach for middle school girls, always leading the team cheer. He was the neighbor to call when the disposal was on the fritz, door hinges were falling apart, or to dig a car out of the snow.

Shawn was born in Glasgow, Montana to Kip and Helen McFaul and raised in Bozeman, Montana. In his youth, during the day, Shawn held his hands as one would a teacup, as he would instruct, to win sprint distances on the track. At night, he curled his hands around drumsticks while playing in his band, Beans and Rice. On the weekends, he chased sunsets on his bike, hiked Hyalite Peak with a camera in his hands, did puzzles, and read the comics. He was a humble, calm, supportive, encouraging, strong-willed, optimistic son, brother, husband, father, friend, and community member.

While enduring various cancer treatments the past six years, he discovered that creativity is his cure. He sculpted and gifted owls. He wrote, "My hope is that this owl brings you some happiness and joy for many years to come." All who knew and loved Shawn know he was a maker of happiness and joy in their lives.

In addition to his wife and two children, Shawn is survived by his parents, Kip and Helen McFaul (Bozeman, Montana), his siblings, Mike McFaul and Donna Norton (Palo Alto, California), Pat and Chris McFaul (Port Townsend, Washington), Christie and Tony Martel (Bozeman, Montana), Tim and Amy McFaul (Monroe, Washington), and many uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews, and nieces. A funeral will occur at 3 p.m. on October 4, 2025 at the First Presbyterian Church in Portland, Oregon with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Children's Healing Arts Project.