Shawn Paul Bolinder Stuart

On 11/29/2024, our son, brother, nephew, and friend, Shawn Paul Bolinder Stuart, “graduated” this earth life and joined his mother, Jacqueline Lee Steele Fox, his grandmother, and many other family members, mentors, and friends on the “other side”. Shawn had addiction issues for many years so his passing wasn’t a surprise, but nonetheless, it was unexpected, and he will be greatly missed.

Shawn had a beautiful heart and loved everyone. He chose to live his life differently than many but always brought a giant smile, positive energy, good will, and laughter to every situation. Shawn loved soaking daily in the hot pools in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho where he’d lived for many years. He loved exploring and learning about anything and everything unconventional and controversial, listening to music, painting bright fluorescent abstracts, cooking, and collecting crystals. He enjoyed volunteering at the Sundance Film Festival and did so for 20-25 years. His dream of creating much-needed summer and holiday dinner theater events in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho was coming together very nicely.

Shawn met the love of his life following his mother’s Celebration of Life in LaSalle, Utah in June 2024, and we love Christopher too. Three weeks ago we received a text from Shawn in which he requested our emotional support for himself and Christopher as they attended a recovery center in Mexico. We were very excited and confident that together they would finally find the strength and commitment to free themselves from addiction. We enjoyed a beautiful dinner with them three hours before they flew out of SLC. Had we known this would be the last time we’d be together, we would’ve hugged him tighter and longer.

Unfortunately, Shawn became very ill at the recovery center, was hospitalized, and passed on November 29, 2024. During the four days it took to get the proper documentation to claim his body and make cremation arrangements, we spent time with the owner, staff, and patients at the recovery center. We learned about their lives, backgrounds, and the journeys they’ve taken to heal and overcome addiction. We learned they all have beautiful souls, and they too deserve love, compassion, and freedom from addiction – rather than judgement.

We experienced the heartache of scooping out and dividing up Shawn’s ashes so a part of him would always be in Mexico, then brought him home in an urn. We finally realized that NO ONE can “fix” or “convince” a user to change their lives – except themselves. Addictions of every kind affect millions worldwide, and choosing the freedom of sobriety is undoubtedly one of the hardest things for anyone to overcome, but is certainly possible for those who are committed to do so.

Addiction doesn’t just destroy the individual’s lives, but it also brings chaos, despair, and heartache to everyone around them. When we finally withdraw our active participation in anyone’s chosen downward spiral, the users must now learn to rely on themselves and their Higher Power in walking their path to freedom by choosing to build their own safety net, choosing to take accountability, and choosing to change their lives one day at a time ALL. BY. THEMSELVES.

We choose to continue to love and cheer them on and praying and trusting with all our hearts that our loved ones will choose to find the strength and courage to prevail!

We’ve been given the sacred task to heal generational wounds in our family linage.

Our job is not to save and rescue other people.

We are not here to carry the burden of the world on our shoulders.

Our position is to awaken and ascend.

Our purpose is self-mastery.

Our mission is to go first, lead the way, and be an example that others may follow.

We are here to illuminate the Path to Freedom!

Those who love and miss Shawn include his partner, Christopher Gallegos; his father, Bruce Bolinder and mamacita, Carolya Bolinder; uncles and aunt: Scott and Frank Steele, Garry Bolinder, and Cheryl Bolinder; siblings: Shannon Stuart, Ryan Stuart, Joe and Kristen Bolinder, Lawrence and Hillary Bolinder Palestrant, Nicole and Jack Walters, Kash and Heidi Bolinder Nasim, Joshua Bolinder, and Ashlee Bolinder Wallin; and many beautiful nieces and nephews and friends too numerous to mention.

*Plans for Shawn’s Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.*