News and Views

Mary Catherine Fry - Nov. 12, 2015

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Mary Catherine Fry was born in Adamstown to the late Lawrence and Mary Fry Aug. 31, 1925. She graduated from Frederick High School in June 1942 and continued her education at Frederick Visitation Academy Business School. She completed additional college courses at Charles County Community College.

She and Jim Shannon were married in 1945, after his discharge.
During World War II, she worked at the Eveready Company. After World War II, she worked at the U.S. Government General Accounting Office and held a number of clerical positions in Calvert and Frederick counties. She worked as a teacher’s aide in various positions at Calvert County Public Schools. For several years she welcomed newcomers and visitors at the Calvert County Chamber of Commerce Visitor Centers.

His decision to attend seminary was some years after they were married and he graduated in 1954. She raised six children and participated in the eight churches he served, which included a student appointment from 1952-54 at Huntingtown-Emmanuel Charge; Mt Nebo, 1955-57; Wesley Grove from 1958 to 1962, followed by  Hollywood UMC, 1963-66; then 15 years at Trinity UMC in Prince Frederick. He went on disability leave in 1983 and died in 1988.

Shannon was a lifelong care giver, as well as a longtime volunteer for various church and charity organizations, including Calvert Hospice where she received awards honoring her volunteer work in both 1994 and 2004.

During her more than 17 years residing at Asbury-Solomons, she volunteered for many functions. She was the pianist for the Health Care Center sing-a-longs and a devoted visitor to residents in the Health Center. She was a lifelong singer and musician who played the clarinet and piano. For more than a decade she played for church services in the retirement community.

Survivors include her children and their spouses: Steve Shannon of Biddeford, Maine, Greg Shannon of Laurel, Jeff Shannon of Huntingtown, Kathy Shannon of Port Republic, Mark Shannon of Rockville, and John Shannon of St. Leonard; nine grandchildren, a great-granddaughter, three step-grandchildren, 10 step-great grandchildren, and three step-great-great grandchildren.

Mary Catherine “Mary Kay” Shannon, widow of the late Rev. Jim Shannon, died Nov. 12, 2015, at the Asbury Solomons Retirement Community in Solomons, The Rev. Charles Harrell officiated at a memorial service there Nov. 16.

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