Claude Jay Shannon, 94, of Murphysboro, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 5, 2025 surrounded by his wife and children at Carbondale Memorial Hospital.

Claude was born October 4, 1930 to Silas and Melinda (Crisler) Shannon. He was born and lived his entire life in the same home on the family farm near Murphysboro. The farm was homesteaded in 1840 by his Great Grandfather, Samuel Shannon. The farm is recognized as a "Sesquicentennial Farm of Illinois". He was proud to be the 4th generation to operate Shannon Farms and to watch the 5th and 6th generations continue the family legacy.

He was a member of Camp Creek Baptist Church and Jackson County Farm Bureau. He was drafted during the Korean War and was chosen to be a Marine. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal. On December 18, 1954 he married Fern Hallbauer of Cutler, IL They were married at
the Denmark Baptist Church parsonage. They celebrated 70 years of marriage in December 2024.

Claude is survived by his wife, Fern and his children: Claudia (Mark) Kinder, Don Shannon (Karla Morgan), and Carol (Rodney) Brown all of Murphysboro, IL.; his grandchildren Adam (Audrey) Kinder, Joshua Kinder, Sarah (Eric) Allen, Emily (Brandon) Taylor, Ashley Brown (Caleb Schwinn), Grant Brown (Jennifer Dean),Michelle Godwin and Morgan Cook: great grandchildren: Zeke, Toby, and Theo Kinder,
Jacob, Nolan, and Oliver Allen, Bailey Brown, Johanna and Maddie Lynn Godwin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Claude was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers: Henry, Kenneth, and Ernest Shannon; his sister Wilma Shannon, Kathryn Smith, Verna Nobel, and his twin sister, Claudine Shannon.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 11:00 am, at the First Baptist Church, Murphysboro, IL, with Rev. Kent Eaton officiating. Burial to follow at Murdale Garden of Memory Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday morning, where friends may
call from 9:00 am until time of the service at the church. Memorials may be given to Camp Creek Baptist Cemetery and can be mailed to Wilson's Funeral Home, P.O. Box 227, Ava, IL 62907.