Shain Gandee’s Mom Recalls Buckwild Star’s Faith, Says He’s In Heaven

Shain Gandee’s sudden death last week in an accident hit the close knit Gandee clan hard, and the 21-year-old Buckwild star was remembered as a country boy that loved his family, four-wheeling and having fun.

Shain Gandee, uncle David Gandee and a friend perished last weekend in a “mudding” accident, when the vehicle in which they’d been off-roading experienced a blocked tailpipe.

More than a day after the three were reported missing, their partially submerged Ford Bronco was uncovered, and it was later discovered the men had died of carbon monoxide poisoning. While the deceased passed peacefully, their loved ones are left to mourn, and the younger Gandee’s funeral (which was not aired on MTV) was a touching tribute to a reality TV star who died too young.

Mom Loretta Gandee told fellow mourners that Shain was confident when he passed he’d go to heaven, and she said at his funeral at Charleston Municipal Auditorium:

“I know where Shain is. He said about a month ago, ‘I know when I die I’m going to heaven.’ ”

Rev. Randy Campbell spoke about both David and Shain Gandee, saying:

“We come to this place to celebrate and remember the lives of David and Shain. God, I pray Lord, your grace will be sufficient for the Gandee family, God, for the extended family … As the Gandee family pastor, this has been a hard week for them. A hard week for all of us. You never do imagine that death is going to creep in when it does … As quickly as it begins, it can end.”

Campbell added:

“This life will hand you a lot of things and call it pleasure, but there is nothing that brings greater joy to a person’s heart than serving the Lord. You may think at this point, you’re having fun, but those days will pass.”

While the funeral will not air on TV, the show’s production company reportedly covered the costs of Shain Gandee’s final arrangements.