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Toby Shope Obituary
Sedro-Woolley - Toby James Shope, 40, resident of Sedro-Woolley, WA, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, January 12, 2025 in Spokane, WA following a heroic two and a half year battle with an undiagnosed neurological illness.
Toby was born on October 17, 1984 in Mount Vernon, WA, the son of Carl L. Shope and Karen S. McIlhenny and was the little (but bigger!) brother to two older sisters, Sadie and Jenna. As a young boy Toby loved balloons and anything with a loud engine, especially planes, trains, and tanks. He would ask, 'What do you think would win, a battle mech or a tank with extra armor?' He spent countless hours exploring the many wooded acres of his childhood home with his sisters, playing 'cars' with Hot Wheels, riding his bike to the neighbor's house, and discovering a love of video games that would continue into his college and post-college years with his friends. Toby enjoyed playing Little League and soccer as a young boy, basketball in middle school, and basketball and tennis in high school. He was active in the youth group at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley. Toby loved watching movies, whether it was at home with family or going to the theater with friends, and he loved the camping trips that his family would take every summer with his cousins. Toby especially loved fireworks on the 4th of July and sitting out by the fire with friends, neighbors, and family.
Toby was a 2003 graduate of Sedro-Woolley High School and a 2008 graduate of Central Washington University where he earned a degree in Airport Management as well as his Army National Guard Officer Commission through the ROTC program. After college Toby worked for a short time at McAllister Field in Yakima, WA and then spent many years living and working in the Seattle area. Toby had achieved the rank of Army Captain by the time of his deployment to the Persian Gulf in 2013. In Kuwait he and his unit were tasked with the retrieval of equipment where exposure to many toxic chemicals is presumed. In 2021 Toby returned to his childhood home to assist his dad with the property and at the time he became ill he was working at a behavioral health/recovery center where his calm and caring presence was appreciated by staff and clients alike.
Toby cared deeply about others and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. Toby was always generous with his time, words, and gifts. His height and impressive physical presence were offset by his kind, gentle nature and his engaging laugh could bring a smile and laugh to others. Toby was so brave throughout his illness, always staying positive even when faced with an uncertain outcome. During his illness Toby spent time at many facilities in the attempt to find a diagnosis and get well, including Puget Sound VA Medical Center in Seattle; the Spokane Veterans Home in Spokane, WA; the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest in Post Falls, ID; Palo Alto VA Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA; the Community Living Center at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, WA; and the Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH) in Post Falls, ID. During his final days Toby was moved to the Hospice House of Spokane. A special thanks is extended to all the staff at the Hospice House for their compassionate care of Toby.
Toby is survived and greatly missed by his entire family and circle of friends including dad Carl "Pinky" Shope of Sedro-Woolley; mom Karen McIlhenny and stepdad Peter Nash of Conconully, WA; sister Sadie Zollinger (Nick) and niece Emilia of Spokane, WA; sister Jenna Shope; stepsisters, Erin Nash and Tennille Nash of Australia; grandmother Dorothy Russell of Sedro-Woolley; many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John "Jack" and Elsie McIlhenny and grandfather, John Carl Shope.
A Celebration of Life with Military Honors will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Lemley Chapel, 1008 Third St., Sedro-Woolley followed by a reception at the Eagles Club, 1000 Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. Toby was laid to rest at Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley during a Graveside Service on January 18, 2025. Share your memories of Toby and sign the online guest register. at www.lemleychapel.com.
Toby was born on October 17, 1984 in Mount Vernon, WA, the son of Carl L. Shope and Karen S. McIlhenny and was the little (but bigger!) brother to two older sisters, Sadie and Jenna. As a young boy Toby loved balloons and anything with a loud engine, especially planes, trains, and tanks. He would ask, 'What do you think would win, a battle mech or a tank with extra armor?' He spent countless hours exploring the many wooded acres of his childhood home with his sisters, playing 'cars' with Hot Wheels, riding his bike to the neighbor's house, and discovering a love of video games that would continue into his college and post-college years with his friends. Toby enjoyed playing Little League and soccer as a young boy, basketball in middle school, and basketball and tennis in high school. He was active in the youth group at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Sedro-Woolley. Toby loved watching movies, whether it was at home with family or going to the theater with friends, and he loved the camping trips that his family would take every summer with his cousins. Toby especially loved fireworks on the 4th of July and sitting out by the fire with friends, neighbors, and family.
Toby was a 2003 graduate of Sedro-Woolley High School and a 2008 graduate of Central Washington University where he earned a degree in Airport Management as well as his Army National Guard Officer Commission through the ROTC program. After college Toby worked for a short time at McAllister Field in Yakima, WA and then spent many years living and working in the Seattle area. Toby had achieved the rank of Army Captain by the time of his deployment to the Persian Gulf in 2013. In Kuwait he and his unit were tasked with the retrieval of equipment where exposure to many toxic chemicals is presumed. In 2021 Toby returned to his childhood home to assist his dad with the property and at the time he became ill he was working at a behavioral health/recovery center where his calm and caring presence was appreciated by staff and clients alike.
Toby cared deeply about others and was loved and respected by everyone who knew him. Toby was always generous with his time, words, and gifts. His height and impressive physical presence were offset by his kind, gentle nature and his engaging laugh could bring a smile and laugh to others. Toby was so brave throughout his illness, always staying positive even when faced with an uncertain outcome. During his illness Toby spent time at many facilities in the attempt to find a diagnosis and get well, including Puget Sound VA Medical Center in Seattle; the Spokane Veterans Home in Spokane, WA; the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Northwest in Post Falls, ID; Palo Alto VA Medical Center in Palo Alto, CA; the Community Living Center at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center in Spokane, WA; and the Northern Idaho Advanced Care Hospital (NIACH) in Post Falls, ID. During his final days Toby was moved to the Hospice House of Spokane. A special thanks is extended to all the staff at the Hospice House for their compassionate care of Toby.
Toby is survived and greatly missed by his entire family and circle of friends including dad Carl "Pinky" Shope of Sedro-Woolley; mom Karen McIlhenny and stepdad Peter Nash of Conconully, WA; sister Sadie Zollinger (Nick) and niece Emilia of Spokane, WA; sister Jenna Shope; stepsisters, Erin Nash and Tennille Nash of Australia; grandmother Dorothy Russell of Sedro-Woolley; many loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, John "Jack" and Elsie McIlhenny and grandfather, John Carl Shope.
A Celebration of Life with Military Honors will be held at 12:30 PM on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Lemley Chapel, 1008 Third St., Sedro-Woolley followed by a reception at the Eagles Club, 1000 Metcalf St., Sedro-Woolley. Toby was laid to rest at Union Cemetery in Sedro-Woolley during a Graveside Service on January 18, 2025. Share your memories of Toby and sign the online guest register. at www.lemleychapel.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Published by Skagit Valley Herald from Jul. 12 to Jul. 13, 2025.
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