The Girl Behind the Shine
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." ~Matthew 5:16
Meet Avery Rian Shacklette—the remarkable young woman whose life, love, and light inspired Avery Shines. Some people simply live life. Avery Rian Shacklette eagerly embraced every second of it.
From the moment Avery entered this world on August 28, 2004, we knew there was something unmistakably (extraordinarily) special about her. We always joked that Avery was born with FOMO, “fear of missing out!” On the very day she was born, Avery lifted her tiny head, bright eyes wide open, and looked around as though she couldn’t wait to see what life had waiting for her. The curiosity, excitement, and determination grew stronger along with every stage of her life. It should come as no surprise that Avery was an early bird her entire life. Not because she had to be, but because the risk of missing out on something exciting trumped sleeping late. She didn’t want to miss the sunrise, the adventure, the conversation, the opportunity, or the chance to make the small moments mean the most.
Avery’s fierce independence was evident almost as soon as she could talk. One of her first, and most repeated phrases was, “Avery can do it herself!” Those words embodied who Avery was. As her parents, we never had to motivate Avery, she motivated herself. She made goals, set her own expectations, and then worked until she exceeded them. If Avery decided she was going to do something, you could pretty much consider it done. She was organized, determined, resourceful, and independent beyond her years. Avery always had a plan and it was usually a very good one! At 17, while most teenagers were asking for clothes, electronics or something fun, Avery asked for her very own Sam’s Club card! Our girl with the Sam’s Club card in her wallet was practical, independent, prepared, and always ready to take charge!
Avery was also unbelievably creative and diversely talented. She painted driftwood, designed jewelry, customized clothes, hand-painted shoes for prom, transformed Nike Air Force 1s into one-of-a-kind works of art, cooked incredible meals, and baked delicious desserts. If you believe the act of making something was enough, think again! It had to have Avery’s unique touch. If something could be changed, personalized, improved, or made more beautiful, Avery was going to make it happen. That creativity inspired a special flair in her photography business. Avery loved taking photographs, but she was most passionate about editing the images. Editing was the step where she could take what she had captured, and add the finishing details that made the image completely her own. It reflected the way Avery saw life: she looked beyond what the eye could see, and showed what could only be seen with the heart.
For someone so accomplished, Avery found tremendous joy in life’s simplest things. Our family spent countless weekends along the banks of the Ohio River, where Avery developed her love of coffee at a young age. Many mornings began beside the campfire, coffee in hand, watching the sun rise over the river. She loved flowers, gardening, friends, golf, music, photography, travel, sunsets, sunrises, and time with her beloved dog, Piper. Avery absolutely loved the beach. The ocean, sunshine, sand, and warm weather had a special place in Avery’s heart. Give her a cup of coffee, a beautiful beach, and a sunrise or sunset, and she was exactly where she wanted to be. Avery dreamed of following the sun—traveling, finding warm places, seeing beautiful beaches, and filling her life with adventure. It was the perfect dream for the girl who never wanted to miss anything.
Avery’s light was brightly glowing long before college. From her earliest school days at Payneville Elementary, she stole the hearts of teachers and staff with her bright personality, unmatched determination, and impressive spark. Even then, Avery loved a challenge—to this day, she still holds Payneville Elementary’s jump rope record! It’s a small, but perfect example of the outstanding excellence that would define her walk through life. The impression she made lasted far beyond her elementary years, with many of those teachers following her journey and proudly celebrating her accomplishments.
That same drive followed Avery to Meade County High School, where she graduated with honors and made history as the first student from Meade County selected to attend the Governor’s School for Entrepreneurs. In true Avery fashion, the gift of being selected wasn’t enough—her GSE team went on to earn third place at Demo Day. She was also recognized as the Meade County Chamber of Commerce Future Business Woman of the Year; along with student of the month, and other countless honors. There was never a doubt that Avery was headed for success well beyond high school.
Avery was a shining example of a devoted athlete on the golf course. As a member of the Meade County High School girls’ golf team, she was an integral part of helping the team make its first trip to the state tournament. From the early days at Payneville and MCHS, Avery was developing into the remarkable young woman so many would come to know—driven, confident, creative, compassionate, and never afraid to challenge herself.
At Kentucky Wesleyan College, Avery continued that same unwavering pace. She was a four-year NCAA Division II golfer and graduated Magna Cum Laude with the Class of 2026. Throughout college, Avery earned academic honors, served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), executive committee, earned SAAC member of the year, operated her photography business, held down a job, volunteered, and remained deeply involved in both campus and community life. Kentucky Wesleyan later said, “Avery epitomized the Wesleyan Way in every sense of the meaning.” That description fit her perfectly. Avery didn’t simply participate in life. She poured herself into everything she did!
Going into her junior year of college, Avery was given the opportunity to intern at Wendell Foster. Almost immediately, she fell in love with the organization, its staff, and the residents. What began as an internship became something deeply meaningful to her, and Avery found her place in Owensboro. During the four years she lived there, she built a remarkable network of friendships and connections through Kentucky Wesleyan, Wendell Foster, SAAC, her photography business, the Western Kentucky Botanical Garden, the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, and Friday After 5, where she served as a board member. Owensboro became much more than a college town for Avery. It became her second home. Avery loved Owensboro, and Owensboro loved Avery.
As proud as we are of everything Avery accomplished, none of those accomplishments are the highlight of why she was so very special to us. Before she was an exceptional student, athlete, entrepreneur, coworker, volunteer, or community leader, Avery was the best daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, and cousin our family could have ever asked for. She was the fanciest flicker in the room, and our family was blessed with her brilliant shine!
Despite being a younger member of the family, Avery unofficially became our family manager. Trips, holidays, dinners, celebrations, and family activities often had Avery behind the scenes dreaming up the plan, organizing the details, and orchestrating the final event with perfection. Avery never threw things together. She personalized it. She added thoughtful details. She made sure everyone was included. She wanted the people she loved to feel special. That was Avery’s heart. Avery strived not only to say the words, “I love you,” but to show the love she felt!
Avery had a presence that is hard to describe; unless you were lucky enough to experience it. Her smile radiated joy. Her energy was contagious. She made people feel comfortable, included, and valued. She was intelligent but never afraid to be silly, confident but compassionate, accomplished but always willing to help. She was boldly independent but deeply devoted to the people she loved. Avery loved Christ, and her faith shaped the way she lived-with kindness, courage, positivity, and compassion. Family was everything to Avery, and her special kind of love radiates in each of us. Out of all the places she traveled, and all the things she accomplished, family was always home.
As college graduation approached, Avery had made another plan. She was coming home. After graduation, she planned to return to her hometown and begin her professional career as an insurance agent with State Farm. Our entire family was so excited to see what Avery would do with her life. We were proud to watch her begin her career, see what goal she would conquer next and, most of all, have her within arm’s reach again. We looked forward to ordinary life with Avery—the river, family dinners, coffee, gardening, flowers, beach trips, sunsets and all the moments that had built our family and come to mean so much.
Only nine days after graduating from Kentucky Wesleyan College, Avery’s life unexpectedly and tragically came to an end on May 11, 2026. She was 21 years old. I often find myself speechless when I try to put this loss into words. We went from celebrating Avery’s college graduation and the anticipation of realizing her future dreams to trying to understand how someone so full of life could be gone. Twenty-one years seemed like such a long time until it was suddenly over. Avery packed more living, loving, creating, serving, and achieving into those years than most people can imagine!
After Avery’s passing, the magnitude of her impact took our breath away. Her obituary was viewed more than 1.5 million times, but even a number that large cannot measure what Avery left behind. Her rays of sunshine live in people—her family, her friends, her teammates, her coworkers, the residents and staff at Wendell Foster, the Kentucky Wesleyan community, Owensboro, Meade County, the people she photographed, the organizations she served, and the countless people who have come to know Avery through her story.
The world is better because Avery Rian Shacklette was here. Our greatest wish is for people to truly know Avery. Not only what she accomplished, but who she was. The fiercely independent little girl who said, “Avery can do it herself.” The teenager who wanted her own Sam’s Club card. The golfer. The entrepreneur. The photographer. The artist. The volunteer. The leader. The family manager. The daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece and cousin who loved her people with her whole heart. The young woman who loved Christ, black coffee, flowers, the river, sunsets, sunrises and the beach. The girl who dreamed of following the sun.
Avery showed us that a meaningful life isn’t measured by how many years we are given. It is measured by how fully we live them, how deeply we love, how generously we give, how bravely we chase our dreams, how often we show up for others, and how brightly we allow our light to shine.
That is why Avery Shines exists—to carry her light forward, serve others, spread kindness, create opportunities, inspire people to love their families with pure devotion, and remind all of us to notice life’s beautiful moments.
We cannot change the ending of Avery’s story, but together, we can make sure her story is never forgotten. Avery knew that her purpose was special, so to our sweet girl we say, “Keep shining, the world needs your light!”
Take the trip. Drink the coffee. Gather your people. Help someone. Create something beautiful. Put your feet in the sand. Watch the sunrise. Stay for the sunset. Love deeply. And every chance you get…follow the sun. Avery’s earthly life may have been 21 years, but her legacy has no ending. Live with adventure. Laugh with joy. Love without limits. Let your light shine Averyday….because Avery did!