James E. Shannon Jr.

James E. Shannon Jr., 75, passed away Saturday October 4, 2008 after a long fight with cancer. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Bettyann (Setterquist); three children, James E. Shannon III and his wife Barbara, Kevin Shannon and Kathleen Fitzpatrick and her husband Robert all of Grafton; three sisters, Helen Moore, Harriet Flynn both of Worcester, Mary Sullivan of Leicester; seven grandchildren, Jaime and Dylan Fitzpatrick, Shawn, Thomas, Taylor, James IV, Katherine Shannon; dozens of nieces and nephews across the country including Robert Shannon the Command Master Chief for all 5 US Navy bases in Japan, as well as the Diego Garcia staging area for the Gulf. He was predeceased by his parents, James E. and Maude C. (Langley) Shannon, three siblings, Paul Shannon (1945), Jane Morrissey (2004) and Robert Shannon (2008). Mr. Shannon was born October 31, 1932 in Worcester and has lived in Grafton for 59 years. He graduated from Commerce High School (1951), Worcester Jr. College, WPI School of Industrial Management and served with Co. B 181st Infantry Regiment of The National Guard in Worcester. He began working at Wyman Gordon Co. in the 1950's as a die sinker moving to Production Planning and Systems before becoming Manager of General Purchasing retiring after 35 years there. He then started his own construction company allowing him to work with good friends and the opportunity to spend quality time with his grandchildren who he was known to as "Pop Pop", watching them play hockey, baseball, soccer and basketball. Jim also loved Grafton and gave of himself serving on the Grafton School Committee and The South Grafton Elementary School Building Committee. He was a parishioner of St. Mary's Church in North Grafton and an involved parent serving as chairman of The Boy Scouts of America Worcester Council in 1967, coaching in the Grafton Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball system, a founding member of The Grafton Sideline Club and a lifetime member of The NRA. Jim also loved skiing, windsurfing on Cape Cod, parachuting, annual attendances at motorcycle week in Daytona FL, and was a founding member of "F" Troop, the Fay Mountain Trail Riding and Debating Club. Jim leaves us with nothing left on his "Bucket List". Memorial donations may be made in his name to The Grafton High School Football Field Renovation Fund, c/o Grafton Credit Union, 86 Worcester St. N. Grafton 01536 in lieu of flowers.

Funeral & Calling Hours

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated for Jim Wednesday October 8th at 11:30 a.m in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 17 Waterville St., North Grafton. He will then be laid to rest in Pine Grove Cemetery. Calling hours are Wednesday Oct. 8th from 9 to 11 a.m in Roney Funeral Home North Chapel, 152 Worcester St. North Grafton before the funeral Mass. A condolence book and directions are available at: www.

roneyfuneralhome.com