Shawn James Hottell was born to Colleen (Hallenius) Brooks and Shannon Hottell on March 10, 1975 in Omak. On June 23, 2012, Shawn went on to his eternal field of dreams after a strong battle with pneumonia and ARDS.
     Shawn grew up in Kent, Wash., and moved to Omak at the beginning of his sophomore year. He enjoyed his years playing football and baseball as an Omak Pioneer until he graduated in 1994. After graduation he moved to Federal Way, Wash.
     Shawn loved sports, food, friends and family, not necessarily in that order! He was an avid fan of the Seattle Mariners and the Seattle Seahawks. He enjoyed bantering with friends and cousins about the status of many teams and he found great pleasure swapping “secret recipes” and finding new dishes to prepare for family gatherings. Shawn had a deep, abiding love for all of his family and he spent as much time as possible with his nieces and nephews.
     In 1995, Shawn went to the baseball training camps in Peoria, Ariz. He tried out for the Oakland Athletics and did really well. He was so proud of that achievement. He also worked as a security guard, delivery person, and tire salesman for Sears and Goodyear.
     Survivors include his father and stepmother, Shannon and RoseLinda Hottell, of Auburn; his mother and stepfather, Colleen and David Brooks, of Federal Way; two sisters, Christie Stover (Hottell) of Port Orchard and Vanessa Aparicio of Federal Way; brother, Andres Aparicio, of Federal Way; nieces, Makayla, Camilla, Emali and Taylor; nephews, Caleb and Gabriel; his grandmother, Ruth Hottell; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
     Shawn will be dearly missed by his close and personal friends.
     He was preceded in death by grandfathers, Thomas Hottell and Kenneth Hallenius; grandmother, Alice Hallenius; his loving aunts, Nancy (Hallenius) Sanders, Elma D. (Hallenius) Wyckoff, and Miriam (Hallenius) Michael; plus his uncle, Peter Hallenius; and cousins, Jason Hottell and Dean Michael.
     We want to thank everyone for the outpouring of love and affection toward Shawn during his short illness and the support that was so freely given to our family during this very difficult time. Family is crucial to those of us who are left behind, and we have been blessed with exceptionally strong, loving and compassionate family members.
     A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Federal Way, Wash. at the Light of Christ Church. Cremation services have been entrusted to Cascade Memorial in Bellevue, Wash. Shawn’s ashes will be laid to rest at Okanogan Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery at a later date.
     Shawn left his earthly body years too soon, and he is proof ... the good die young.