PORTLAND — On Tuesday, Aug. 28, Shane Michael Cheetham, 43, was freed from this earth to roam the woods whenever he pleases.

Shane was born June 12, 1975, in Lewiston to Michael and Marianne Pouzol Cheetham. He graduated from Lisbon High School in 1993, and raised daughters Ashley and Shana Cheetham with his best friend, Patricia Dobson.

Shane enjoyed working with his hands, and was what some would call a jack-of-all-trades, as he held a variety of jobs throughout his life, mainly in the construction and automobile industries.

An adventurer by nature, nothing made him feel as free as being outdoors. Routinely, he could be found hiking throughout the Maine wilderness, taking time to methodically plan each trip and capture pictures along the way to share with his friends and family. His love for fishing and target practice were areas into which he put a lot of effort, spending long days casting his pole or peering through his scope to perfect his skills. Tinkering around under a hood or handwashing his beloved “toys” was never something Shane saw as a chore, but rather an act of care for a machine that he appreciated and had worked hard to obtain. Shane was a music lover. He attended a plethora of concerts throughout his life, and could spend hours picking away at his guitar. He took every opportunity to share these interests with his daughters and later, his “little meatballs,” as he liked to call them, Hunter and Tanner.

Shane possessed a very honest outlook on life and was unapologetically blunt. Whether you wanted to hear it or not, he definitely was not afraid to share his opinion. Those qualities often frustrated many, but endeared him to everyone who knew him well. A man with a cheeky sense of humor, Shane could always be counted on to tell a less-than-appropriate joke or story, and was by no means concerned with the potential reaction of his audience. Those lucky enough to know Shane will fondly remember his unique love of body art. He proudly displayed a multitude of meaningful tattoos and piercings that he collected over the years, always encouraging his girls to express themselves however they saw fit. Despite his hard exterior and stubbornness, Shane was a sensitive soul who exuded so much love and compassion for others. He had an undeniable way with words along with an infectious (and loud!) laugh that will be sorely missed.

Shane is survived by his forever love, Trish (Dobson) Ouellette; his daughters Ashley and Shana Cheetham and their fiances Ethan and Brenton Moore (We’ll never forget you. Love you, Grape!); his grandsons Hunter, Tanner and Brentley (We love you, Umpa!); his mother, Marianne Pouzol Tyler; his father and stepmother Michael and Karen Cheetham; his sister, Angela Cheetham; his brother, Christopher Cheetham; and stepbrother, Matthew Deschesne; his maternal grandmother, Evelina Pouzol; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and dear friends who will miss him forever and think of him often.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (Maine) at namimaine.org, or to your local animal shelter in Shane’s name.

Shane Michael Cheetham

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