Rest Easy, #26 – In Loving Memory of Shae McCusker
With the deepest sorrow and broken hearts, we remember and honor the life of Shae McCusker, known to many simply as “#26” — a fiercely loyal friend, a radiant presence, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of soul. His passing leaves a profound void in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, but his legacy is one of unforgettable joy, loyalty, laughter, and love.
Shae was one of my “Dark Alley” guys — the kind of man you knew would be by your side in your darkest hour, ready to go through anything with you. Steady. Loyal. Loving. The kind of friend who didn’t flinch when things got hard, who didn’t disappear when the world got heavy. The kind who made everything lighter just by being around.
There’s one word that keeps rising up from everyone as we share stories, tears, and smiles: “Lucky.” We were all lucky — lucky to know Shae, to laugh with him, to witness the way he lived life. Lucky to have shared even a moment of space in a world where Shae existed. His energy was magnetic, his kindness never questioned, and his laughter — that laughter — it could lift the heaviest heart.
Shae McCusker was the life of every party, but more than that, he was the heart of any room he walked into. His smile lit up faces before he even spoke. He could make you laugh in the worst moment of your day, not by accident, but because he knew you needed it. With a dance move (often terrible but fully committed), a killer one-liner, or those signature finger guns while shuffling side-to-side — Shae wasn’t just having fun, he was creating joy for everyone around him.
And yet, for all the life and laughter Shae brought into the world, nothing compared to the love he gave. His friends were his family. His family was his entire world. And then there was Kelly, his true partner, his best friend, his other half. The kind of love they shared was what most people spend their whole lives looking for. Together with their dog, Stella girl, Shae’s dreams were simple and pure: build a life full of love, laughter, and memories that would last forever.
Shae lived life out loud. He embraced it. He gave everything he had — and then some. He gave to others before himself, never thinking twice. If you needed him, he was already on the way before you could finish the sentence. That was just Shae. His kindness wasn’t performative, it was his core. It came naturally, abundantly, without strings or expectations. Because loving others, for him, was instinct.
Today, we mourn an irreplaceable man. We sit in shock, in pain, and in disbelief that someone so full of life is now gone. But we also hold tightly to the truth: that Shae made this world better, and his light is not extinguished. It lives in the laughter he inspired, in the love he gave, and in the memories we now treasure more than ever.
As we support one another through this heartbreaking loss, we also rally around Kelly, who now faces the unimaginable. In Shae’s spirit of giving and selflessness, we ask those who knew and loved him to offer help however they can. Donations will go toward funeral costs, a celebration of his beautiful life, and the unexpected burdens Kelly will face in the coming days and months. It’s the kind of help Shae would have given without question — and now, we do it for him, and for the woman he loved with everything he had.
We will share details of Shae’s obituary, service information, and links to his GiveInKind support pages shortly.
