Lawrence A. Shannon

Lawrence Andrew Shannon, 95, of Kansas City, Kansas, passed away August 6, 2015. A Memorial Visitation will be held from 4:00-7:00 p.m., Sunday, August 9th at Chapel Hill – Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112. Graveside services will be 1:00 p.m., Monday, August 10th at Mount Hope Cemetery, 606 Iowa Street, Hiawatha, Kansas 66434. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Judson Baptist Church, 8300 State Ave, Kansas City, Kansas 66112 or the American Cancer Society, 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, Missouri 64105.

Lawrence was born January 5, 1920 in Hiawatha, Kansas to Scott Andrew and Ida Nielsen Shannon – though his older sister always said that his birthday was actually on January 3rd. Lawrence and his siblings, Maurice, Forrest “Brownie, Tommie and Alma were raised mostly by their father, which his family thinks he did a pretty good job. Lawrence graduated from high school from Hamlin, Kansas in 1938. He worked as a farm hand and harvester with his brothers and then joined the Navy on January 11, 1942 and served in Naval Mine Warfare as a Boatswain’s Mate First Class. Lawrence married Betty Jean Camblin on February 16, 1945 in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana. He was honorably discharged on September 23, 1945 after 3 years, 8 months, and 13 days of service.

Three of his children were born around the Hiawatha area, Sheralyn, Larry David and Linda Kay. They then moved to Piper, Kansas where he worked as a caretaker for a Brethren Church camp. The younger three children were born in Kansas City, Kansas, Randy and the twins, Jeanne and Janiece. Lawrence worked at Sunflower Ordinance in DeSoto, then went to Railroad School in Kansas City, Missouri and took a job in Ellis, Kansas. He learned how to work on sewing machines and how to be an exterminator. Lawrence worked for the Postal Service for many years, retiring in 1980. He then drove a bus for special needs children and then for seniors in Bonner Springs – he was always a chauffeur for Betty, driving her wherever she needed to go.

Lawrence was a member of the American Postal Workers Union, a lifetime member of the VFW, a member of the Masons since 1948, a member of the Eastern Star since 1969, and held many offices in all of them. He volunteered for Job’s Daughters as a guardian and drove over 25,000 miles all over Kansas. He also volunteered in the Citizen’s Police Academy, which is similar to a Neighborhood Watch.

Lawrence was a charter member of Judson Baptist Church in 1961. He was a man of few words, but lived by the word of God. Lawrence and Betty enjoyed square dancing and one of their fondest trips was visiting friends from Job’s Daughters in Australia for a summer. He was loved by his family and will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Scott and Ida; sister, Alma Camblin; brothers, Maurice and Forrest; and son-in-law, Keith Owens.

Lawrence is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Betty Jean Shannon; six children, Sheralyn Rogers and her husband, Warren, Larry Shannon and his wife Carol, Linda Kay Owens, Randy Shannon and his wife Barbara, Jeanne Caccia and her husband David, and Janiece Huntley and her husband Terry; seven grandchildren, Marty Arellano, Douglas Rogers and his wife Holly, Angelia Lorenz and her husband Brian, Joel Arellano and his wife Gena, Shannon Whalen, Chris Whalen and his wife Kelly, and Nicholas Whalen; brother Rev. Thomas Allen Shannon and his wife Ruth; as well as many other family members and friends.

Fond memories and condolences for Lawrence may be left at www.chapelhill-butler.com, as arrangements are under the direction of Chapel Hill – Butler Funeral Home, 701 North 94th Street, Kansas City, Kansas 66112; 913-334-3366.