“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” June Shannon, 91, died Monday July 6, 2020, after a lengthy illness at the James River Care and Rehabilitation Center in Springfield. She is the daughter of the late Harry R. and Julia Mae (Smyer) Brixey, born May 31, 1929, in Mountain Grove. She married the love of her life, Jerry Elliott Shannon, on May 25, 1951, in Mountain Grove. Three children were born to this union. They remained in Mountain Grove and raised their family there. Jerry passed away Oct. 11, 2012. June attended and graduated from Mountain Grove High School, she then attended Oklahoma Baptist University graduating with a teaching degree. Later, she finished her education at Southwest Missouri State University receiving her teaching degree in physical education. She taught P.E. to many girls at Mountain Grove Schools helping them to learn, play and enjoy many sports including soccer, volleyball and gymnastics. She was also the cheerleader and Pep club sponsor for many years. June accepted Christ as her Savior at an early age. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Mountain Grove, where she was faithful to the choir, taught children’s choir and did many other acts of service. She and Jerry loved helping shut-ins who needed rides to doctors’ appointments or help with meals. June loved her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother and made sure our lives were happy and complete. She enjoyed gardening, preserving and sewing. She was a homemaker at heart.
Besides her husband and her parents, June was preceded in death by two brothers, Kenneth and Bert Brixey. She is survived by two sons, Bill Shannon and his wife, Sara, of Theodosia; and Bob Shannon and his wife, Brenda, of Mountain Grove; one daughter, Susan McGinnis and her husband, Bob, of Rogersville; six grandchildren, Kayla Drake and her husband, Matt; Paul Shannon and his wife, Meghan; Kallie Rowlett and her husband, Joshua; Alyse Fields and her husband, Brandon; Hannah Shannon; and Brandon Shannon; 15 great-grandchildren, Norah, Reagan, Caroline Brixey, Reese, Noelle, Gwen, Ethan, Kaytlynn, Noah, Kendall, Thomas, Braylee, Brystol, Bryndli June and Brytinn; one sister-in-law, Jacqueline (Barton) Brixey, of Little Rock, Ark.; and other relatives, friends and church family who will dearly miss her. Visitation for June Shannon was held Thursday, July 9, 2020, from 10-11 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Mountain Grove. Funeral services followed the visitation at 11 a.m., also at the church, with the Rev. Gene Edwards and Pastor Brandon Fields officiating. Song selections were “In Times Like These,” “It Is Well With My Soul” and “Goodness Of God” sung by Nancy Doty with Jean Ann Reed serving as accompanist. Paul Shannon, Brandon Fields, Joshua Rowlett, Matt Drake, Brandon Shannon, Ethan Drake and Noah Drake served as pallbearers. Burial was in Hillcrest Cemetery under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home, Mountain Grove. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Association or First Baptist Church in care of the funeral home. Online condolences: www.craighurttfuneralhome.com.
