Shannon Fox

Shannon Louis Fox was born in Lubbock Texas March 23, 1971, to Marshall and Verna Fox. He went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus on November 16, 2022, in Lubbock Texas at the age of 51. He is survived by his father Marshall Louis Fox, his brother Russell Bryan Fox, sister-in-law Tristy Nell Peek Fox, nieces Savanna Brynn, McKayla Rylee, and Allyssa Scout Foxes.

Shannon was born with a heart for the Lord. At no point in his life did he ever not know the Lord. He made the same mistakes as all of us but was always repenting on his knees before his Lord and prayerfully studying the Sword of the Word. As a very young child, he based every decision on how it would affect his friendship with the Lord. His brother’s earliest memory of Shannon is standing up to a bully on the school bus trying to get Shannon to indulge in what Shannon considered sin. He refused the offer and offered a lesson to the bully on what the Bible says. Shannon was never a fan of combat sports and hated the thought of hurting anyone. He was gentle and kind until something pricked him and that was easy to happen. Then his temper would explode. Shannon was a person you would not want to have access to the nuclear launch codes, because he would use them when he “Hulked” out. Shannon was tough. A lifetime of twisting wires and working had made him hard. When you slapped Shannon on the shoulder, it was like slapping a hard rock boulder. A telling story of Shannon was a man broke into his house on Christmas Eve 2020. Shannon had his pistol but choose not to kill him where he stood. He started talking to him and was told that he got drunk and was in a family fight and was running down the road and broke into Shannon’s house for shelter. Shannon offered to take him home and walked him to his truck. The man jumped Shannon from behind knocking Shannon to the ground then attacking him on the ground. Shannon fought him to a standstill and then told him “I’m getting up now, don’t follow me.” Shannon went back inside and called the police. When Shannon was asked why didn’t you kill him? He replied, “I didn’t want his family to have a tragedy on Christmas to remember.”

Shannon and Russell all their lives discussed scripture and what it means to love the Lord and follow him. Shannon was faithful to his church with Charles Stanley and never would miss a Sunday with Mom and Dad watching the service on TV. Shannon took notes of every sermon and would meditate on the words. Shannon always counseled his brother to keep the Sabbath holy. Russell always countered with my ox is in the ditch and I have your sister-in-law and three nieces to take care of so come help me, which Shannon would. Russell wants everyone to know that Shannon will not have to be preached into Heaven. “Couldn’t do that even If I wanted to.” But it should be known that Shannon walked in all the light that the Lord gave him, and he did everything he knew to do in his own ways to honor God and apply the blood of the Lamb to his life asking for forgiveness and having his name written in the Lamb’s book of Life. Shannon had learned to be able to pray with such fervent power that his prayers for Marshall and Verna could be felt as they electrified the air. He spoke to the Almighty as a friend that had spent many hours contemplating his life and earnestly prayed for his parents. It was humbling to hear my brother pray and inspired me to work out my salvation with fear and trembling.

He graduated from Frenship High School in 1989 in Wolfforth after attending all of grade school in the Frenship school system and preschool at Southwest Private school in Lubbock. He was active in Future Farmers of America enjoying mechanical, electrical, and welding skill set mastery. Probably the only school Shannon liked until studying electronics in college. Shannon and Russell attended First Baptist Church in Wolfforth Texas where they enjoyed Sunday school and learned to appreciate the sermons. Both boys choose to be baptized in Jesus’ name in 1992 at Faith Tabernacle Pentecostal Church by Pastor Tommy McKibben. Shannon worked in the family farming and ranching endeavors, loving to gather cattle on his motorcycles and operating the variety of trucks, tractors, and farm implements. Shannon loved hanging out with his uncle AG which shared the gift of “fixing” anything electrical or mechanical and music. Shannon and Russell had many people that helped raise them. Specifically, many Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents on the Reese and Fox sides of the family. One family that stands out in the boys raising is Bob and Mary Lois Walker. They helped raise Shannon and Russell and taught them to love the Lord, and appreciate hot rods, motorcycles, and firearms. A family friendship that continues to this day.

His hobbies included night hunting with spotlights, ripping the roads up with motorcycles, and enjoying the small family farm lifestyle of gardening and growing feed, cattle, horses, donkeys, numerous fowl, dogs, and of course his beloved cats. Shannon was known for being able to breathe life into any broken-down piece of machinery. He delighted in fixing every small gas engine anyone would let him work on. He rode more on the back wheel of a motorcycle than the front by a wide margin. He could ride miles without the front wheel touching the ground. He never wanted to harm anyone but just wanted to be left in peace to enjoy music with family and friends. Shannon’s best friends in his youth were Victor Espinosa, Morgan and Marty Baker, Jim Terry and family, and Randy Mandrell. Randy neighbored with us and maintained his friendship with Shannon all his life, checking on him when he would see Shannon outside working. Max Hector and family were also dear family friends of Shannon’s. Max was always encouraging Shannon and they shared electricity in their blood. Max even helped Shannon acquire his most prized 1985 Honda CR 500, the most 2 stroke horsepower that can be put to ground. Shannon was also friends with Todd Benson, and it was Todd that saved Shannon’s life on November 15 being willing to be liable for breaking down Shannon’s door to be rescued by the medical professionals. Russell’s friends were Shannon’s friends. Matt Gilbreth likely knows Shannon as well as anybody, having been friends with Russell and Shannon for over 40 years. Shannon’s music and movie library is extensive which he enjoyed sharing. In his young life, Shannon is what would be described as a metal head banger, being turned on to a boy named Sue sung by Johhny Cash, by cousin Mike Jenkins with Gunter Glieben Glauben Globen of Def Leopard reference, and Metallica’s Mush-a ring dum-a-doo-dum-a-da early by cousin Jeff Redden but loved Grandpa Jones “don’t get drunk no more” bluegrass and Austin City limits with Hee Haw as well. Shannon used to tease little brother a say Bawitdaba-da bang-da-bang-diggy-diggy-diggy, and I had no idea what my crazy big brother was saying to me. I learned to appreciate his musical wisdom once older. Cousins Danny and Keith Fox freely shared their knowledge with Marshall’s sons and helped develop their hot rod aspirations all their lives. Shannon had another brother in a cousin, Ken Graham. We were raised as littermates by Ellen and Verna, being all about the same age, and living in Lubbock. Our cousin Amy Jenkins was a sister to us and spent much time on the little farm with us growing up.

After high school, Shannon attended and graduated from South Plains college with his degree in Electronics and Electrical engineering. He made many friends there, such as Lynn Norman, and conducted lots of hay business with his family. Shannon worked while going through college as a horse stable caretaker, a frame carpenter, sheet metal worker, along with many other odd jobs. He worked his way up to Journeyman electrician in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. This strong bond lasted all of Shannon’s life refusing to work “scab” or non-union jobs. The Brotherhood has been a great help and comfort to Shannon’s family even after his death.

Shortly before Shannon died and was on his death bed, I asked him if he would do anything different if he could do it all again. He said, “I would play more Baseball.” We played baseball in our youth and always had our parents there to enjoy our playing. Shannon chose not to take a wife after his diagnosis of diabetes at 19 years old. He said that he did not want to saddle another person with his health problems. Technology has improved to the point that diabetes can be managed but the family thinks that anyone wanting to bless Shannon should offer a donation to the American Diabetes Association in his name.

Everyone wants to know what killed Shannon. Shannon’s hero and best friend is his dad, Marshall. Marshall says that my friends are Shannon’s friends. Marshall’s oldest friend is James Gray from the old neighborhood for going on 70 years now. Shannon and Russell have enjoyed many get-togethers with James and Margaret and always looked forward to their knowledge and fun-loving personalities. Shannon told me he lost his hero and best friend to dementia. Shannon lost the most loved person in his life to pancreatic cancer when he lost his mother. Shannon’s main priority in life has been to care for his parents. He felt in many ways that work was finished. I don’t think any physical ailment killed Shannon but rather the love he had for his parents caused him to mourn himself to death. If not for the boy’s Aunt Ellen Graham becoming the boy’s new mother, Shannon would not have made it a year. Ellen and Shannon had many good times together and she has mourned more for Shannon than any other because she gave of her time to take care of him as her own child. She says that they took care of each other. She was with him when he passed from this life to the next and is still helping to handle his affairs and take care of Russell as his mother too.

Shannon and Russell where the youngest cousins on both sides of the family until Royce Junior and Cereena came along. Shannon enjoyed taking care of them as little brother and sister. They were his only opportunity to parent someone until his three nieces Savanna Brynn, McKayla Rylee, and Allyssa Scout came along. He enjoyed the banter and play time with Junior and adored Cereena and her life successes.

In the end, all one can say to the Lord is I tried to do your will. I believe that when his soul left his body, he knew the words being spoken to him were well done thy good and faithful son. I believe the loved ones that have travelled ahead of him met him that day and he now knows freedom from pain and sorrow. I believe Shannon has treasure stored up in Heaven as scripture says because of the way Shannon lived preferring a quiet life on the farm and decision making to prefer the happiness of others and denying himself vengeance on perceived enemies. I believe that we will all see Shannon again in heaven and he will greet us with a big red bearded smile saying it was all worth it to get to this point in eternity.

Shannon Louis Fox

Funeral Service March 25, 2023, 10 am Pentecostals of Lubbock (POL formerly Faith Tabernacle) 44th and Ave. P Lubbock Texas

9:50 am

Preservice music softly playing 15-30 min before service begins Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughan (Shannon liked Stevie and this is a blues guitar instrumental) 10:00 am Prayer and Welcome: Russell Fox Reading of the obituary by

Savanna Fox page 1

McKayla Fox page 2

Allyssa Fox page 3 Comments from family

Cousin Cereena Craig

Cousin Royce Junior Reese

Cousin Ken Graham

Cousin Jeff Redden

Brother from another Mother Matt Gilbreth

Offer anyone else to say a few words.

Closing Prayer Harold Cary

Song “Ain’t no grave” with slide show of Shannon Slide Album presentation on loop while the music plays as the guests are allowed to visit with the family to express condolences.

12:00 pm Lunch on your own

2 pm Invitation to reception at Jimmy and Ellen Graham’s home at 2620-47th street Lubbock Texas