Shirley Marie Kilpatrick Shannon passed away on Friday, November 2, 2018 after a long and joyful life. She was born February 10, 1930 in Portsmouth, Virginia to Thomas Byron and Mildred Robinson Kilpatrick. She was the eighth of thirteen children. In 1951 she married James Shannon, a Southern boy from Laurel, Mississippi. They enjoyed a wonderful 62-year adventure together before he passed in 2013. He treasured her outgoing personality, loving the way she never met a stranger. They lived in Pascagoula, Mississippi, then Newport News Virginia, and in 1961, James joined NASA which took them to Houston, where they would live and raise their family for the next 33 years. They were blessed with five sons and three daughters. She absolutely relished the love and chaos that came with a large family. She was an amazing mother, cook, seamstress and all around DIYer. She ran a tight ship, but always made room for fun. She was room mother, Cub Scout leader, little league booster, Girl Scout cookie chairman, and wore as many hats as necessary to support her brood.

Always active in their church wherever they lived, they were uplifted by their church family. She loved and relied on the Lord, and was a fierce defender of her faith. She was also very proud of her Irish heritage. She was a champion of the underdog, and always there to defend them. An avid sports fan, she watched and rooted for her teams – the Astros, Oilers, Notre Dame and any team her children were playing for. She was an amazing storyteller. Her sons often say they got their sense of humor from her. One friend called her the ‘Erma Bombeck’ of Meadow Creek, her neighborhood in Houston. She and James retired to Georgetown, Texas and then to Nacogdoches, Texas. They traveled, cruised, and made it to as many extended family functions as they could.

Left to cherish her memory are her children: Cynthia Davis (Bill), Ann Marie Falloure (Jack), Betsy Bales (Malcolm), John Shannon (Tiffany), Patrick Shannon (Nastasya), Timothy Sean Shannon (Katherine). Grandchildren: Jeffrey Davis (Selma), Scott Davis (Hannah), Byron Davis (Euree), James Davis (Erin), Sean Falloure (Ashley), Craig Falloure (Mackenzie), Stephanie Falloure, Shannon Bales Morrison (Josh), Sarah Bales Mikkelsen (Emil), Brigid Bales Pitts (Joey), Kelly Bales, Patrick Bales, Christopher McGee, Taylor Shannon, Kaitlynn Shannon, Zachery Canon, Mackenzie Canon, Maggie Shannon. Great-grandchildren: Luna Davis, Amber Davis, Robert Davis, Thomas Davis, Kaden Callahan, Liam Falloure, Declan Falloure, Adalynn Falloure, Audrey Morrison, Clark Morrison, Alex Morrison, Elle Morrison, Margot Morrison, Nina Mikkelsen, Molly Pitts, Charles Pitts, James Pitts, Josephine Pitts, David Bales. WHEW! Sisters: Mildred Moore, Mary Vincent Fussell, Blanche Bailey. Brother: John Kilpatrick and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband James, sons, James Shannon, Jr and Charles Shannon, and grandson, Malcolm Bales, Sisters, Margaret Adams, Anne Wakefield, Barbara Zibelin, Janie Baker, brothers, Thomas Kilpatrick, Frank Kilpatrick, James Kilpatrick and Al Kilpatrick.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 6 at 11:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 1422 County Road 724, Nacogdoches, TX 75964 by Rev. Joseph Lourdusamy. Visitation will be at Laird Funeral Home, 2116 South Street, Nacogdoches, TX 75964 on Monday, November 5 at 5:00 p.m., with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund, 1422 County Road 724, Nacogdoches, TX 75964.