Luke Anthony McCANDLESS

Luke Anthony McCandless was born January 30th, 1983, in Spokane, WA. After a courageous fight against cancer, sadly Luke passed away on July 5th, 2024, while surrounded by loved ones.

Luke was a person who truly seized life at every opportunity. His zest for living was contagious to all those around him. His charismatic ways assured a new friend was met wherever he journeyed. He was selfless, one of the most generous and giving souls.

As the eldest son, Luke treasured being a brother and naturally stepped into being a leader for the family. His loving spirit showed through in everything he did for his family whether it was making a morning special by awaking before dawn to gaze at the sunrise, embarking on worldly adventures, or sharing practical financial knowledge for everyone's success; the love he felt for his family was always undeniable.

His thirst for knowledge and exploring all the world had to offer was obvious by his many hobbies and interests. If Luke wasn't actively learning something new, he was likely searching for his next hobby or subject to learn. His passions included sailing, scuba diving, flying, fishing, camping, traveling, gardening, festivals, skiing, and reading.

As a young child, it was always apparent he had leadership abilities. During his years in high school, he participated in "Future Business Leaders of America" and the Debate Team where he was able to further develop his leadership skills. After graduating high school his path took him to Western Washington University where he found a love of economics, and sailing. College allowed for a lustrous exploration of self, and his new knowledge of event planning.

After Luke graduated from Western Washington University, he moved to Portland, Oregon, where began his career in the world of technology. This eventually led him to the San Francisco Bay area. Luke was part of the tech world working as Head of Support, although his true passion lay in real estate and in investing. He was excited to continue growing his real estate portfolio and enjoyed the challenges of the stock market.

While living in San Francisco, he eventually met his love, Helina. Throwing caution to the wind they decided to leave San Francisco, for a life of exploration and travel. Their travels took them all around the United States and many countries around the globe including frequent excursions to the Caribbean and Europe. Luke's love of family ultimately brought him home to Spokane, WA to be near those he held close to his heart while he and his love envisioned their next adventure.

During his brief time in this physical plane, he left an incredible impact on all those around him, and the reminder to carpe omnia, "seize it all."

To quote Luke "We're celebrating something called life". In Luke's legacy, meet a friend wherever you journey, never stop learning, and share your love and knowledge with the world.

A Funeral Mass will be held Monday, July 15, 2024, at 9:30 am, St. Mary Catholic Church, 304 S Adams St., Spokane Valley, WA, with the burial to follow.