William Douglas Shannon

William Douglas “Bill” Shannon, 80, died Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at Dubuis Hospital in Beaumont. Born in the South Park section of Beaumont on July 23, 1922, he lived most of his life in the southeast Texas area, including most of the last fifty years in Vidor, where he resided at the time of his passing. Mr. Shannon attended public schools in Nederland and Orange, graduating from Lutcher Stark High School in 1940. Although exempt from being drafted into military service due to a childhood injury, William Shannon followed the lead of his older brother Frank and joined the U. S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant, Mr. Shannon served his country as a mechanic in India, helping to keep American air forces flying in the Asian campaign of the War. Later, he would gain his own pilot’s license, and served for many years in the Civil Air Patrol. After the War, Bill Shannon continued his interest in mechanics by becoming an automobile repair mechanic. In the early 1950’s he became an expert in the maintenance of automatic transmissions in autos, which were just starting to become common. This expertise led to the founding of Automatic Transmission Service in Beaumont in May 1955, the first auto repair shop in the Golden Triangle to specialize exclusively in the repair of automatic transmissions. Mr. Shannon operated this new business until his retirement in 1986, and it continues in operation to this date as the original auto transmission specialty shop in southeast Texas. During the late 1950’s Bill Shannon served as president of the Beaumont chapter of the Independent Garagemen’s Association and Director of the State organization. Upon returning from overseas, William Shannon was introduced to Elenora Woolley in Baton Rouge in November 1945, and they were married on Flag Day, June 14th, 1946. It was the start of a fifty-seven years marriage that was filled with love and family happiness. During their life together, Bill and Nora Shannon had four sons, one daughter, four grandsons, four granddaughters, and one great grand daughter. They were also blessed to have wonderful relationships with a very large extended Shannon family, that includes siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews, by blood and by the love of marriage, that numbers well over one hundred relations of kinfolk that were active to the day of his death. Bill Shannon is survived by his wife, Elenora, and their five children: sons Douglas Keith and wife Cynthia Shannon, Larry Glen Shannon, David Alan and wife Cheryl Shannon, Ted Lee and wife Rhonda Shannon, and daughter Melanie Ann Shannon O’Neal, and six grandchildren and one great grandchild: Traci Lynn Shannon-Porcelle and her husband David Porcelle, Kevin Wesley Shannon and his daughter Hayley Lynn Shannon, Daryl Ray Shannon, Bree Dawn Shannon, Angela Ellyn Mott, and Stephanie Beth Mott. Additional survivors include brother George Charles Shannon, sister Ellen La Rue Shannon Harris, and sister Mildred Elizabeth Shannon Hatton. Mr. Shannon was preceded in his passing by sister Helen Louise Shannon Gray, brother Frank Bennett Shannon, Jr., grandson Derek Glen Shannon, and grandson William Douglas Shannon II. As proud and happy as Bill and Nora were with both their immediate and extended families, they were also so pleased to have been able to have made and maintained many lifelong friendships during their time together. In the early years, these friendships were generally fostered at work and with residences. In their more recent retirement years, the Shannon’s were blessed with friendships realized through their participation in the national Family Motor Coach Association, and in its local chapter, the “Gulf Coast Loafers”. On behalf of her husband Bill, Nora Shannon wishes to thank everyone for all these wonderful years of friendship and affection. Memorial services will be held on Friday, May 30, at 3:00 PM, at the First United Methodist Church of Vidor, with Pastor Clayton Whitaker presiding. A reception will follow at the Church, and all friends of Bill Shannon are invited. In lieu of flowers, the Family requests that contributions be made to the Heartbeats of Hope, in care of the First United Methodist Church, 501 Main, Vidor, 77662, or to the charitable cause of choice. The Memorial Funeral Home in Vidor has assisted the Family in this time of need.

Service:
3:00 PM at First United Methodist Church Main St. Vidor, TX 77662 on May 30, 2003 (map/driving directions)