Eva Mae Shannon was the second child of Kirk Brown and Helen Lampe Brown. She was born Feb. 22, 1929, at home in Pocahontas. Her family bought a farm and moved to southern Iowa. She passed away Friday, July 17, 2020, at the Southern Hills Specialty Care in Osceola at the age of 91.
She attended country school and graduated from Arispe Consolidated School in 1947. She attended summer school in Corning, where there was a branch of Cedar Falls Teachers College for a 12-week course. She started teaching at a country school in the fall of 1947. She taught in country school until she was hired at the Murray Community School in 1959.
She was hired for the third grade and taught until her retirement in 1991. She substituted for many years after her retirement.
She married Charles Shannon June 21, 1948, in the Catholic Church in Afton. Four children were born to this union: Judy, David, Donna and Bruce. As a family they enjoyed camping, showing and riding horses and gardening.
Eva Mae had many talents. She loved horses and showed her horse Soapie at many horse shows. She drew and painted pictures. She painted a picture of each of her grandchildren. She liked to sew and made many beautiful quilts. She also loved her flower garden. She always had a garden and canned food for the family.
She was an active leader of 4-H, C.R.D. (Community Resource Development), the Murray Saddle Club and several other clubs and organizations.
She is survived by her husband of 72 years, Charles Shannon; daughter, Judy (Larry) Wood of Greenfield; son, David (Ronda) Shannon of Murray; daughter, Donna (Steve) Morey of West Bend; son, Bruce (Peggy) Shannon of Murray; sister, Patricia (James) Anderson of Murray; brother Eugene of Des Moines; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by granddaughter, Kayla Morey; grandson, Scott Wood; step-grandson Shane Fizer; brother Lloyd (Helen) Brown and sister, Betty (George) Ehm; parents Kirk and Helen Brown; in-laws, Dell and Gladys Shannon.