George Jackson Shannon

George Jackson Shannon

September 9, 1941 - January 27, 2022

George Jackson Shannon, 80, passed away on January 27, 2022, after a long, difficult illness. He was born September 9, 1941, in Seattle, Washington, the second child, and oldest son to John Oben Shannon and Geraldine June Hayden. After WWII, at age five, his family moved to San Francisco. Then to Menlo Park, California when he was 10. His family grew to include him, five sisters, two brothers, and a foster sister. They spent decades of summers camping at Lake Tahoe and later for family reunions.

In 1959, after high school graduation, he attended Humboldt State College where he met his lifelong love, Betty Catherine Gronenthal. They pulled a wedding together in three weeks because he had to ship out with the Navy. They married on December 16, 1961. He served on a submarine from 1960-to 1963, received a good conduct medal, and ranked E-5 as 2nd class petty officer. During this time, his oldest daughter was born. He then finished his BA in industrial arts and secondary education. Two sons and another daughter were born when they lived in Santa Clara, California.

In the early summer of 1972, the family moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, where George and Betty bought five acres. Because it was difficult to leave her parents and seven siblings, Betty told George that she would move with him, but she would not pack. He packed every box and moved every stick of furniture.

Before moving to Twin Falls, George took a drafting class and designed their future home. When he laid out the footprint with string and posts, he decided it didn't look big enough and expanded it. He built a three-story house on the prairie with help from books, lumber stores, friends, and his crew (his wife and four young children.) They lived in the basement as he built the rest of the house. At one point, the frame of the house wasn't level, so George tied a big rope around the outside and hooked it up to the tractor. Betty held the level and told him when to stop pulling. The neighbors got a kick out of that. He learned new skills by trial and error and by simply doing them. His youngest daughter was born during this time. George and the family grew alfalfa and baled hay, had a huge garden, many farm animals and pets. He and Betty lived in that house for 50 years.

A true jack of all trades, George taught woodshop and auto mechanics in San Jose and Twin Falls. He also excelled in worldwide sales, economic development with CSI, and school-to-work programs in Jerome. George was instrumental in re-opening St. Edwards School decades after it closed and acted as principal until turning the reins over and looking for his next challenge.

Not surprisingly, George's children believed their Dad could fix or build anything. He was a welder, a master craftsman and carpenter, an auto mechanic, a gardener, a farmer, a teacher, and a salesman. He built cabinets, furniture, equipment, additions onto the original house, wrought iron gates and fencing, and boats (that he and Betty used on the Snake River). In his retirement, he took up knitting, camping in a 5th wheel, violin and ukelele (briefly), collecting antiques, restoring old treadle sewing machines, and quilting. He made over 75 quilts for his children, grandchildren (on the treadle sewing machine, while praying for each one), and hospitals. If he can build/make things in heaven, he will.

George had a deep faith in God and daily searched the Bible for spiritual wisdom. He prayed every morning for his family and others. When she was a teenager, he enticed his oldest daughter with her own daily missal, to attend early Mass at the Priory with him. She continues to love daily Mass because of her father's humble example. He shared his faith with many, did much questioning and learning, and leaned on Jesus in his joys and struggles. He was willing to talk for hours with siblings, children, and friends about their problems and would help in any way he could. One of his sisters thanked him for living his faith and bringing God's tangible presence to her. His children know God to be practical, creative, and caring because of their father's example. A granddaughter said that her grandpa showed her the best of what masculinity can be.

For 50 years, George and his wife have been parishioners of St. Edwards Catholic Church. In living out his faith, George volunteered as an unofficial chaplain and prayed and talked with many dying friends and neighbors in their homes and hospitals. He helped his neighbors with repairs, food, and caring for them in declining age and ability. Inspired by Sr Mary Bernadette Browne, OP, a cloistered nun, and dear family friend, George proposed the idea for perpetual adoration at St. Edwards. He did the carpentry for the first chapel, as well as helped with scheduling prayer warriors.

When asked what he was most proud of, George said his five children. With a grin and a chuckle, he added his biggest hobby was working on his children's estate (house, property, and antiques).

George was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Timothy Allen Shannon, sister Carolyn Shannon Phillips, his foster sister, Eugenia Moore, and a niece Abigail Shannon. He is survived by Betty Catherine Shannon, his wife of 60 years, his brother John Russell Shannon and sisters, Kathleen Shannon Finn, Anne Elizabeth Kleven, Christine Mary Shannon Taylor, and Teresa Clare Shannon, his five children: Susan Marie Shannon Davies, James Francis Shannon, Patrick Lee Shannon, Christy Ann (Paul) Waldapfel, Mary Catherine aka Katie (Jim) Horner, seven granddaughters, five grandsons, six great-grandsons, three great-granddaughters. He will be greatly missed and we look forward to a heavenly family reunion.