Shannon Lee Ashford

Ashford, Shannon Lee

Shannon Lee Ashford, age 62, of Yankton, South Dakota died at 11:06 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015. at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Shannon was born September 16, 1952, in Great Falls, Montana, to Mason and Nina (Burch) Ashford. She grew up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, where she graduated from Lincoln High School in 1970. In 1972, she married Steven Reindl of Manitowoc. The marriage dissolved in the late 1970's and Shannon never remarried or had children. Shannon fondly remembered many summers playing board games, Barbie dolls and then Beatle's records with her childhood friends on North 23rd Street. Those same summers were also filled with trips to Caledonia, New York, where Shannon and her sister, Leslie enjoyed long visits with their paternal grandparents. Shannon lived most of her adult life in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but spent 10 years living in Florida caring for her father and his wife. In 2013, she moved to Yankton, where she was an in-home caregiver. Shannon enjoyed gardening, shopping and finding treasures at second-hand stores. Friends will always remember her style and great sense of humor. One of the greatest joys in Shannon's life came from the company and companionship of her many cats which she had throughout the years.

Shannon was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by two sisters, Leslie Ashford (Tom Andrews) of Hartford, WI; and Nancy (James) Mayfield of Cordele, GA; brother, Dan Ashford; one niece and 4 great-nieces and great-nephews; many wonderful friends including the Becker family of Yankton, South Dakota and her beloved cat, Sha Sha.

Shannon's eyes have been donated to the South Dakota Lions Eye & Tissue Bank where a representative believes that there is an excellent possibility for transplant.

A memorial service in Manitowoc is pending. Burial will take place at the Evergreen Cemetery in Manitowoc, Wisconsin.