Shaun Donnelly

Jul 22, 1970 -

Oct 31, 2021

Mr. Shaun Donnelly, age 51, died on Oct. 31, 2021, in Anchorage, Alaska, of natural causes.

Service will be held from 1-3 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, at Legacy Funeral Homes, Bragaw Chapel, 1707 South Bragaw Street in Anchorage.

Shaun was born on July 22, 1970, in Seattle, Wash. He attended elementary school in Queen Charlotte City, B.C., graduated from Walter Williams High School in Burlington, N.C., while assisting his grandmother in her home there he also earned a certificate and massage therapy license from Brenneke School of Massage in Seattle.

Shaun moved to Alaska in 2003, and worked for the Housing Authority in Barrow until 2008, and as a carpenter supervisor in Port Heiden until 2011.

He was an avid outdoors person and especially enjoyed rowing, sailing, diving and sea kayaking. He solo circumnavigated Morsby Island in Haida Gwaii, B.C., in 1990, and earned the admiration of the Officer in Charge at Cape St. James Weather Station, where he stopped off and was able to help fix their computer.

His family wrote: "Shaun was a very positive force! He was so kind, never afraid to be a first responder, helping the underdog and trying to feed and take care of so many people without blame or judgement."

He is survived by his 9-year-old son, Alexander Madison Donnelly; half-brother, Oliver Max Donnelly; mother, Margaret Anne McMurrough and stepdad, Charles McMurrough; and father, John William Donnelly. He was preceded in death by his sister, Jennifer Lee Donnelly of Hood River, Ore.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to Turnagain United Methodist Church, 3300 W. Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99517.

To share words of comfort with the family go to legacyalaska.com.