Cole Shale, 39

Cole Shale, 39, passed away July 7, 2018, in Athol, Idaho.

Conceived in the epic Clearwater region of Idaho, he was born March 30, 1979, in Spokane, Wash.; 22 years later his beautiful daughter Ciara was born in the same hospital. Moving back to Idaho as an infant, Orofino was Cole’s home until a move to Chattaroy, Wash.

He attended school in the Mead School District, where he met many of his best friends in life. In 1993, Cole and his mom moved to Colburn, Idaho, where he attended Sandpoint High School.

Besides having a quick wit, a smart mouth and a wicked sense of humor, as a direct descendant of Robert E. Lee, Cole definitely possessed the warrior spirit. Always up for a challenge, at 17, Cole became a red iron welder, constructing many commercial buildings in Washington, Oregon and Idaho, including the present Bonner County Sheriff’s office/jail. With his love of the outdoors and appetite for demanding work, Cole became a logger. He worked every aspect of the trade from saws to processors to his favorites, yarders and high leads, specializing in the retrieval of logs in extreme terrain.

Later, Cole, as per his lifelong policy, found yet another avenue to maternal worry, working and supervising Hot Shot wildland firefighting crews. During that time, he also attained an associate’s degree in electrical engineering.

Growing up, Cole had many hobbies and interests, including firearms, hunting, RC trucks, skiing, motorcycles, fishing and camping, especially on the North Fork of the Clearwater River.

Cole was an avid Toyota enthusiast. Driving the same truck since he was 9 years old, he became well known and respected in the local rock crawling and mudding community.

Always willing to help his friends with their various vehicles his passion was the creativity and fabrication involved with the modification and customization of the first, second, and third generation Toyota 4x4s.

Cole is survived by his daughters, Ciara Shale and Krystal Timblin;; his mom Brandy and stepdad, Terry Davis; his stepsister, Kevyn (Wayne) Ferguson; his father, Timothy (Linda) Hall of Ahsahka, Idaho; his half-brother, Kalub Hall of Salem, Ore.; his paternal grandmother, Erma Jones of Orofino; his aunt, Tami (Danny) Firzlaff of Peck, Idaho; his maternal grandmother, Louise Romanelli of St. Helens, Ore.; his aunt, Jolene Parker of Ervine, Calif.; and several cousins on both sides.

Cole also left behind his long-time companion, Delana Manus; and his red/blue heeler pup, “Boss.” Cole is in great company, he joined his beloved dog “Marlin” and many amazing friends and relatives that all left us too soon. You may finally rest in peace, BB.

Two services are planned, a memorial run will be held at the Mountain Mafia “End of the Year Bash” in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, on Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at 11 a.m. and an ash release on the beautiful North Fork of the Clearwater River in Black Canyon on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2018.

Lakeview Funeral Home in Sandpoint is handling the arrangements.

Please visit Cole’s online memorial at lakeviewfuneral.com and sign his guest book.