Kay Shannon

There are few who come to see life as a gift and each day as an opportunity to enrich the lives of others, but Kay Shannon fully embraced this truth. She was outgoing with friends too numerous to count, and she viewed her family as a priceless treasure. Musically gifted from an early age, Kay used her talents to bring pleasure to so many around her. She possessed an enduring faith that was both the joy in heart and her shelter from the storms of life, giving her respite for her soul. Kay was a woman of quiet strength coupled with a spirit of graciousness and compassion. Although she will be dearly missed, Kay’s family and friends find comfort in knowing that she is enjoying the presence of her Savior in perfect health.

The thirties were a time that was cloaked in hardship due to the struggles of the Great Depression. Countless people lost their jobs and their homes, and the Midwest was a dust bowl thanks to a serious drought that crippled the nation. This was a time for great joy for not one, but two families since it was on November 24, 1938, that a beautiful baby girl was born to Lewis and Lyla Hardenburg, but she was soon adopted by Lance and Beulah Brown. Kay was born in Flint, Michigan, but moved to Traverse City when she joined the Brown family which included her older sister, Jacqueline. She developed an appreciation for music by the time she was four, and she took piano lessons from the nuns at nearby St. Frances. By the age of 12, Kay started playing the cello, and her parents bought her a German cello that she kept throughout most of her life. As a young girl, Kay was also quite athletic, participating on the track team as a student at Traverse City Central High School.

After graduating from high school, Kay started her college education at Northwestern Michigan College before transferring as a music major to Michigan State University. It was also while a student at Michigan State that she met the man with whom she would share a longtime love. His name was Michael Shannon and they began dating soon after they met. Mike joined the Army and while on leave after his basic training, the couple married in May of 1959. Kay joined her new husband near his military base but while on the way, the newlyweds stopped for a brief honeymoon at Niagara Falls.

Over the next 22 years, Kay and Mike moved several times while he was in the military and later employed by the United States Secret Service. They lived in places such as Baltimore, Colorado Springs, New York City, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and Pittsburg, finally settling in Grand Rapids in 1981. Although moving was never something Kay particularly enjoyed, she did come to like both Colorado Springs and Washington.

In addition to being a wife, Kay cherished being a mother to their two wonderful children, David and Patricia. She was a devoted mother who spent a lot of time with her children since Mike was often out of town. Kay was active in their lives, volunteering at their school and serving as a den mother. She was an attentive homemaker, too, whose house was always clean, but lived in. Family vacations were usually spent returning home to Michigan to visit relatives.

Although much of Kay’s life was wrapped up in her family, there were other things that kept her busy as well. She was a cellist in the Northwestern Michigan Symphony in Traverse City for a time and when they lived in Colorado, she worked for the Gazette Telegraph newspaper. Once they settled in Grand Rapids she found work in the cafeteria at the corporate headquarters for Meijer. There, Kay was greatly appreciated for her fruity pies. She and Mike were members of Second Congregational Church for several years, but most recently were members of Trinity Congregational. Kay liked reading, especially mysteries including Nancy Drew and Jessica Fletcher, and did so well into her adulthood. She also enjoyed playing along with television quiz programs, listening to classical music, and going to the symphony. Shopping and visiting craft shows were other favorite activities. After Mike retired in 1986, the couple enjoyed going to his work reunions that were held at various locations around the country.

People always played an important role in Kay’s life. She was outgoing, easily made friends, and enjoyed getting to know others. Since they lived so many places, Kay liked keeping in touch with her many friends who were all over the country. Because her granddaughters lived so far away, Kay wasn’t able to see them as often as she would have liked, but she treasured the moments they spent together. About 18 years ago, Kay was able to reunite with her birth-parents and family.

Life was not without challenge for Kay, however. She had been battling breast cancer for the last 15 years of her life, repeatedly undergoing treatment and losing her hair at least three different times. Just recently, it had been determined that the cancer could no longer be contained and when Kay needed more care than Mike could provide, she moved to Pilgrim Manor. She still continued to delight in the days she was given and was thrilled to receive several performances from a few of her friends from the symphony, one of whom she had given her longtime cello.

Kay Shannon was a woman who was beautiful on the inside and out, someone who brought harmony to the everyday melody of life. She was pretty level headed and even tempered, and someone who was easy to talk to. Kay was blessed with the gift of music and her many interests were ones that kept her mind sharp. Although she lived throughout much of the country, Kay was always happiest wherever she was surrounded by those she loved. A devoted wife, nurturing mother, and loving grandmother, Kay will be deeply missed.

Kay J. Shannon died on October 23, 2010. Kay’s family includes her husband, Michael J. Shannon of Grand Rapids; her son, David S. (Evie) Shannon and granddaughter Shelley of Jeffersonville, IN; daughter, Patricia J. (Doug) Pierce and granddaughter Kerry of Northville, MI; as well as her sister, Jacqueline Brown Killingsworth of Okemos, MI. She is also survived by her birth-family brothers Lewis Hardenburg, Elwood Hardenburg, Neil Hardenburg, and Curt Hardenburg; and sisters Mavis Merrill, Judy Bowren, Audrey Kirby, and Kay Comfort; numerous nephews and nieces, and many church and neighborhood friends. Kay was preceded in death by her parents, Lance and Beulah Brown and her birth-parents, Lewis and Lyla Hardenburg. Friends may visit with Kay’s family on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home – Alt & Shawmut – Grand Rapids, MI, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive. The funeral service will be held at Trinity Congregational Church, 2725 4 Mile Road NW on Thursday at 11 a.m. Interment in Rosedale Memorial Park. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a memory or make a memorial contribution to the Grand Rapids Symphony for use with the Youth Symphony, the educational programs are suggested.