Matthew SHANNON

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SHANNON: Matthew Thomas Shannon was called to ride in the greatest rodeo of all times on October 4, 2009. Matt was the youngest of eight children born to Jack and Devona Shannon (nee Christianson). He was born March 5, 1974 at Melita, Manitoba. Matt spent his younger years on the Shannon farm helping his dad raise horses. He received his education at Pierson School. He was a fun loving mischievous young lad who could often be found with siblings or cousins in one predicament or another. Even as a boy his love of horses and farming was apparent and carried on throughout his life. He was a member of 4-H Coulter Trail Riders for nine years. At 16 he began working at the Pipestone Auction Mart. He decided at this time that life could give him a better education so he quit school and went to work. As Matt always said “someone’s got to shovel the s*** and he was the man to do it”. He also was employed at the same time with Marvin Goforth, Marvin and Caroline’s was and continued to be his second home. On April 4, 1998 he married Letitia May Taggart of Virden. Together they raised three lovely children: Rachael (1999), Clayton (2001), Jhordan (2002). Matt and Tish began married life on the old Sam’s Place, later moving to the family farm. He continued working with Marvin and looking after his dad’s teams and his horses at home. In spring of 2001 they ventured to Assiniboia, Saskatchewan where Matt was employed with Bruce Richards, farming. They returned to Melita in spring of 2002 leaving many life time friends behind. From Melita they moved in 2003 to Boissevain where Matt worked for Jimmy Wilson on his PMU Farm. When they shut down the PMU barns they returned to Elva and Matt again worked with Marvin. October 2006 he began employment with Randy McCannell, at Classic Vacuum Truck, driving one of the vac trucks in the oil fields. This was a big change from farming and horses but like everything else Matt adapted to it well and soon came to love the work and excel at it. He returned to his roots when he, Tish and the kids returned to live on the Shannon farmstead where they resided at the time of his passing. Matt was a fun loving happy person who you rarely seen without a smile on his face. He always had a quick come back and enjoyed texting dirty jokes to friends and family. He was always there to lend a helping hand when needed often dropping what he was doing at the time to go and help. In his short 35 years of life he touched many a heart with his witty, lovable personality. He loved spending time with Tish and the children and dreamed of turning them all into farmers someday to carry on his love of horses. A true farm boy at heart. Matt leaves to mourn his wife Tish, daughter Rachael and sons Clayton and Jhordan. His parents Jack and Devona Shannon, mother-in-law Denise Mayo, father-in-law Bill (Sandy) Taggart; grandparents-in-law Stuart and Evelyn Mayo; three brothers, Darryl (Wendy) Shannon, Frank (Shirley) Shannon and Chris (Penny) Shannon; four sisters, Arlene Lew, Eunice (Larry) Currie, Wanda (Terry) Currie and Sheila (Brian) Boulton; brother-in-law Jeffrey (Jolene) Sawatsky; sisters- in-law Rebecca (Shane) LaPierre and Brittany (Daniel) Burger. Many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and countless friends. He was predeceased by nephew Dallas Shannon in 2002; grandparents, aunts and uncles. Funeral services were held October 10, 2009 at Victoria United Church in Melita. In compliance with his wishes he was taken to his final resting grounds at Melita Cemetery by horse and buggy. “Goof” & “34” the team of blacks he drove in many a parade. An educational trust fund for Matt’s children has been set up at the Sunrise Credit Union “Shannon Family Trust” Melita Branch, Box 128, Melita, Manitoba, R0M 1L0. The rodeo is startin My mount is saddled upTip your hats to the sky boysAnd remember “Cowboy Up”.

As published in Brandon Sun on Nov 07, 2009