Jerry Elliott Shannon

Jerry Elliott Shannon, son of the late Clarence Derrick “Spike,” and Jane Gladys (Elliott), was born on August 26, 1928 in Springfield, Missouri, and passed away on October 11, 2012 in the James River Care and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield, Missouri, at 84 years of age.
Jerry grew up in Mtn. Grove and graduated from Mtn. Grove High School. He went on to attend military school in Wentworth, Missouri, and then wnt to Rankin Trade School until 1950. He was united in marriage to Lillith June Brixey on May 25, 1951 in Mtn. Grove.
Jerry worked at Home Building & Loan, Landers & Barker Lumber Company, and Mid-America Dairymen/Honeycutt Trucking in Cabool, Missouri. He retired in 1983. He and June called Mtn. Grove their home, where they lived on Maple Street for over fifty-years.
Jerry was a quiet man with a dry sense of humor. If you listened closely, he could always give you a good laugh. Jerry loved to paint, write poetry, sing in the choir, and go for a leisurely drive. To him, there was nothing better than a weekend drive to Rockbridge for some delicious fish and wonderful company. Those around him would not find Jerry any happier than with a bowl of ice cream in hand, unless of course there was a glass of lemonade to go with it.
Jerry loved his wife and family dearly. His family will always remember the story of him putting his foot down and not eating anymore broccoli after his children had left home. He spent what felt like a lifetime to him, eating this vegetable which he could not stand, in order to be an example to his children and to honor his wife.
Jerry served with his whole heart, with June by his side. They faithfully ministered in so many ways through their years at the First Baptist Church in Mtn, Grove. It was their home and their family. They delivered meals, drove others to doctor’s appointments, taught Sunday School classes, and just simply loved and cared for too many to count.
Jerry is deeply loved and will be dearly missed by those who knew him. How precious to know that he is rejoicing and probably sharing a bowl of ice cream with the Lord!
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his siblings: Clay Derrick Shannon, Patricia Romines and her husband, Herb, Hannah Jo Woods and her husband, Weldon; and by a nephew: Jim Woods.
Survivors include his loving wife of 61 years: June Shannon; two sons: Bill Shannon and his wife, Sara, of Taneyville, Missouri, and Bob Shannon and his wife, Brenda, of Mtn. Grove; one daughter: Susan McGinnis and her husband, Bob, of Rogersville, Missouri; six grandchildren: Hannah Shannon, Brandon Shannon, Kallie Rowlett and her husband, Josh, Alyse Fields and her husband, Brandon, Kayla Drake and her husband, Matt, and Paul Shannon and his wife, Meghan; ten great-grandchildren: Norah and Reagan Rowlett, Caroline and Reese Fields, Ethan, Kaytlynn, Noah, and Kendall Drake, and Braylee and Brystol Shannon; a sister-in-law: Pauline Hudson; six nieces and nephews: Patricia Jo Shannon, Jane Romines Medlin, Janet Parilla, Steve Romines, Joel Romines and Derek Woods; and other relatives and friends.

Romans 14: 7-9
“If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.”

Visitation:
Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 10:00 AM, before the service, at the First Baptist Church.

Memorial Contributions:
First Baptist Church Choir and American Cancer Society c/o the funeral home.