Janice Ruth Shannon

Janice Ruth Shannon was a caring Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend. She departed this world on 17 April 2024  at the young age of 81. She was born Janice (never call me Ruth) Gardner in 1943 to Rex and Vera Larson-Gardner in Nemaha Nebraska, population, of less than 100. Later in life she moved to Corpus Christi Texas and worked in the Quality Assurance programs for the meat processing industry. It was in that industry she met the true love of her life, Floyd Ronald (Ronnie) Shannon. They married in 1975 and spent 49 devoted years together.

After her retirement from the Meat Packing Industry her “hobby” became her second true love, Roses, which she shared with her first love Ron. They spent countless hours perfecting their love for all types of roses and had many adventures creating different ways of improving their beauty and traveling across the country. She competed in and judged countless rose shows where her hard work and love for roses resulted in many Championship awards and some very prestigious accolades which include but were not limited to; A Registered Consulting Rosarian, President of the Corpus Christi Rose Society, named Outstanding Judge of the year by the Texas Rose Society and she was a recipient of the coveted Silver Service Award. Jan was a prolific writer and used those talents to write the Rosarian Newsletter and Bulletin for over a decade of her life.

Jan also became a Master Gardner for the State of Texas and was often called upon to give detailed talks to help others become better at the art of horticulture and entomology. She held the offices of Vice President and President for the Texas Master Gardeners in the State of Texas and earned over 10 Silver Shovel awards for her dedication to the Master Gardeners.

She said her favorite accomplishment in these years of service was being instrumental in the development and implementation of the rose garden and Veteran’s Garden at the Corpus Christi Botanical Gardens and asks you to think of her every time you go there and enjoy their beauty.

Jan is preceded in death by her father and mother Rex and Vera Gardner and her two brothers Gary and Ron Gardner.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband Ron, her children Pat (Chris) Gardner, Jimmy (Denise) Courtney, Jill (Matthew) Bohlen, Shirley (Greg) Cox, Shiela Baldivia, Lisa (Justin) Mullins and Little Ronnie (Kelly) Shannon and will be sorely missed by all her remaining family and friends that are too numerous to list here.

A memorial service in her honor will be held at the Sawyer-George Funeral Home in Calallen Texas on 27 April 2024 from 11 a.m. to noon.

In lieu of flowers Jan has asked that all who wish to donate please do so to the South Texas Botanical Gardens and Nature Center at 8545 S Staples St, Corpus Christi, TX 78413 on her behalf.