RAPID CITY- Shamus Pearl O'Daniel 21 passed away unexpectedly at his home on November 11, 2012. He was born August 15, 1991 in Rapid City, South Dakota. While he did not live a long life, during the brief time he was with us, he left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of all who knew him. Shamus was a sports enthusiast, and an active athlete who truly loved sports. As a young boy he played catcher on the Rushmore Little League team. He received special recognition for hitting a Hole-in-One at the Executive Golf Course in Rapid City when he was very young. As his interest in sports increased through the years, it was not unusual to watch him play on the basketball court, the baseball diamond, the tennis court, the football field, the golf course, or on the ski slopes as he enjoyed snowboarding and skiing. While attending Central High School, he was a member of the tennis team. He enjoyed team sports but most of all he enjoyed sharing his love for sports with his brother, Michael. The two golfed, skied, or played tennis together depending on the season. He also loved spending time with his cousins, Sam and Kiko. The boys, Shamus, Michael, Sam, and Kiko relished in their adventures from the time they were little boys. In addition to sports, Shamus was involved in other activities. In middle school he played the saxophone. He served as altar boy for several years at St. Isaac Jogues Catholic Church. He enjoyed camping trips with his family. As a young adult, he loved visiting his sister, Madelynn and her husband, Aaron in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He made his annual Memorial Weekend road trip to Sound Set in Minneapolis with his friends and brother. Shamus was diagnosed with diabetes when he was six years old. For Shamus coping with the disease proved to be a daily struggle. When he was in his early teens, he created a super hero who struggled with diabetes in an effort to share the complications of living with diabetes, and the possibility of overcoming its power. The character resembled a transformer-like figure. His mother believes that he was seeking transformative powers over the disease. Shamus was proud of his multiethnic heritage: Irish, Mexican, and Lakota. A loving memory of him that is held by his family is his love for the River Dance. When he was a little boy, he surprised everyone with his rendition of River Dancing. Performances were requested at family gatherings and Shamus was always willing to oblige. He donned a sombrero and he danced. The importance of family was significant in his life. He helped care for his maternal grandparents, Larry and Corine Mendoza and great Uncle Armando. He could always be depended on to hold vigil throughout funerals and wakes. Family members often saw him wrapped in a sleeping bag on a church pew while he sat vigil for loved ones. Shamus spent a lot of time with his paternal grandparents, Robert and Dolores O'Daniel. Their home was his home. His absence will be felt deeply by them. He loved spending time with his brothers and sisters, Cameron, Michael, Madge, and Hannah. For a time he lived with his brother Cameron and nieces and nephew. They are fortunate to have had that time with him. At the time of his death, Shamus was an apprentice chef at On The Border in Rapid City. Shamus was well-liked and respected by his former teachers, co-workers and friends. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him. He is preceded in death by his great-grandmother, Gladys O'Daniel, grandparents, Larry and Corine Mendoza, Julia and Bill McGaa, brother Tyler Jenson, great-uncle Armando Mendoza, and numerous aunts and uncles. He is survived by his mother, Lily Mendoza y Ducheneaux (stepfather, Darin) of Rapid City, father, James O'Daniel of Rapid City, grandparents, Robert and Dolores O'Daniel of Rapid City, sister, Madge (Aaron) Baker of Minneapolis, brother, Cameron Ducheneaux of Rapid City, brother, Michael Phillips of Rapid City, sister, Hannah O'Daniel of Rapid City, brother Justice O'Daniel of Phoenix, and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephew and cousins. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in memory of Shamus Pearl O'Daniel be sent to Diabetes Incorporated. Donations can be made by going to www.diabetesincorporated.org. Or, by sending to donations to Diabetes Incorporated, PO Box 9368, Rapid City, SD 57709-9368. A rosary will be at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, November 15 at St. Isaac Jogues. An all night wake service will follow the rosary. Christian Burial Mass will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, November 16 at the church with Rev. David Matzko S.J. presiding. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City.