Shawn Draper

Shawn Kevin Draper passed away at home on March 5, 2023.

Shawn was born on March 20, 1973, to Kevin and Susan (Olson) Draper in Salt Lake City. As a child, he spent several years in Falls Church, VA where his father attended graduate school. Shawn had many happy memories of exploring the museums in our nation's capital and taking road trips to the countryside with his parents and siblings.

Shawn spent his teen years in Danville, CA. Many of the stories from his years as a wild teen are not printable. There was something about a couch being lit on fire and thrown from a balcony... Shawn was the quintessential bad boy who liked to make mischief and get in trouble. That all changed though.

Shawn met his wife in college in Arizona. Colette flipped a quarter to decide on which class to take during a summer session. Shawn sat down in front of her on the second day of class. She thought he was really cute so one day, she told him she had a babysitter, but didn't have anything to do. It took a few more direct hints until Shawn got the point and asked her out on a date. He proposed to Colette two months later.

Shawn loved being a dad to Colette's daughter, Ayren, so much that he convinced Colette to do it two more times: a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Sophia. His greatest joy was being there for his kids. He coached their sports teams, went to all their plays and art shows, and took them to the doctor. His life was about his family.

Shawn and Colette had a mutual devotion that was obvious to all who saw them together. He was the love of her life, and she was his. This past May, they celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with a trip of a lifetime to Florence, Italy. The trip had all of Shawn's favorite things: amazing food, getting lost on a scooter in the hills, a pub with great beer, and Colette.

Shawn had many interests and hobbies, and he was very proud of his time volunteering for Pleasant Hill Baseball Association. For over a decade, Shawn coached and umpired hundreds (maybe even thousands) of softball and baseball games. Umpiring was his passion. Doing it as a volunteer for PHBA was his calling. Having his "brother blue" by his side was his honor and joy.

Shawn lived a full and fun life. He didn't have a magnificent career or make a lot of money. He drove an old pickup truck he nicknamed "Maggie". He wore ball caps, flannels, and hiking boots. There was nothing pretentious about Shawn. He didn't have secret agendas or need to have his ego stroked. He was simply... Shawn. He loved many and gave everything he had to everyone he knew.

Shawn leaves this world better than he found it because of his devotion to his family, friends, and community. He will always be a bright shining light to those who loved him.

Shawn is survived by his wife Colette, daughters Ayren (Max) and Sophia, son Nicholas, parents Kevin and Susan, brothers Garrett (Sherri), Christian, Marcus (Elizabeth), sister Julia (Justin Howard), mother-in-law Carol Farabee, brothers-in-law Gerry Williams (Amanda) and Glyn Williams (Kathryn), and many nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles, and countless friends.

Shawn's family asks that in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the American Heart Association or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Thank you.