Shannon Graham Obituary

Shannon Graham

We will be printing the memory book from the posting and pictures submitted to the following website: 

http://www.jefoust.com/obituaries.html

Please take a moment to post on the guest book so family and friends who are unable to join us can share in Shannon's memories.

COLLEYVILLE -- Shannon Graham, 43, passed away on Sunday, September 5, 2010 after a courageous 8 year battle with breast cancer.
Service: 1 pm Wednesday, Chapel of J. E. Foust Funeral Home.
Shannon was born on November 12, 1966 in Denver, CO. to Ronald and Rowenta Graham.  She was a graduate of Littleton High School. She graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.  Shannon was a flight attendant with American Airlines for over 20 years. Her passions included organic gardening, gourmet cooking, contract bridge, many kinds of hand craft, their dog Canton, and the many adventures she shared with Adam and friends. Shannon will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Memorials: memorials may be given to Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Attn: Donor Services, PO Box 650309  Dallas, TX 75265-0309.
Survivors: soul mate and life partner, Adam White, Colleyville; parents, Ronald and Rowenta Graham, Denver, CO; sister, Nicole Brooks and husband Ted, and their children, Will and Andrew, Phoenix, AZ; Aunt, Orenta Thompson, Altus, OK.

J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors

Grapevine, TX 817-481-2525

Celebration of Shannon's Life

There will be a celebration of Shannon's life on Wednesday September 8, beginning at 1pm at the JE Foust Funeral Home in Grapevine, Texas (523 South
Main Street).  Immediately, following the initial service, we will continue the celebration at the Grapevine Botanical Gardens (411 Ball Street), just a few blocks away.  This was one of Shannon's favorite local places, and Adam and her visited often.  Light refreshments will be served in the Gardens' Bessie
Mitchell Center.  We will also release butterflies in the gardens thereafter.

In lieu of flowers Shannon asked that donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.  The formal obituary will be posted on Foust's web at http://www.jefoust.com/obituaries.html

Joe and Barbara Buckley will be hosting a dinner with Shannon's favorite Main Street BBQ at their home Wednesday evening following the release of butterflies at the Botanical

Gardens. Everyone is welcome to attend.  Just click on the picture to rsvp so we will have a good head count for food.  Her address is 2624 Flameleaf Drive Grapevine‎ TX‎ 76051.  Rest in Peace Shannon Graham.

The passing of Shannon Graham

Shannon Graham passed away this morning after a long and courageous battle with cancer. We will all miss her dearly, but treasure her everlasting friendship.

a turn for the worse

This entry is from Barbara Begnel Buckley.  She has been a friend of mine since I was 4 years old and has become a great friend to Shannon and Adam.  She lives nearby and is able to see Shannon almost daily.  "I'm sad to say I saw Shannon on Thursday and Friday and she seems to have taken a turn for the worse. She isn't able to swallow quite suddenly and has quit getting out of bed.  She is resting somewhat peacefully but having some labored breathing.  Hospice is coming daily to help Adam and her mom, Rowe.  At this time, they don't need anything but our prayers, love and support. I will keep you posted."
Barbara

20 Year Pin & Kelly Visit

Shannon received her 20 year pin with American Airlines today.  What an great accomplishment!
Does anyone have any ideas on how to display it?

Also sorority sister, Kelly Perkins Wilde recently visited Shannon and wanted to share her thoughts:

Hi everyone (or y'all as they say here in Texas)!

I was gifted with a wonderful afternoon visit with Shannon and Adam recently.  We kicked back with some iced cherry mochas and caught up on every one's activities.  We had an intense discussion about the birds and the bees and I learned alot from Shannon!  I thought by now I knew it all, but had no idea that bees can starve even with a hive full of honey and that guinea hens roost in trees while chickens do not!  They have a HYSTERICAL story about their dog and chicken eggs - but you just have to hear it from them!

Shannon and Adam are on a beautiful lot with several gardens of flowers, vegetables and herbs.  It is amazing and Adam is still working on several projects on his lush lot.   The Wilde family is not so lot lucky, so my children have not learned the skill of tilling a garden and making it ready for fall.  And I know my two have never seen an active bee hive or learned about bee keeping.  Adam has offered to help my children develop these skills by having them over for a work day, or two.  I'm thrilled to get everyone dirty and learn more about raised gardens and have my kids learn what a real yard should look like.  I'm thinking if we put down winter rye grass just right it will spell out AGD all winter in their front lawn (just kidding, Adam!)

If you ever in the area, please stop by!  Nothing is as delightful as Texas in August!

Loyally,
Kelly Perkins Wilde

Cupcakes

Shannon has always loved cupcakes.  She bought me this book one year for my birthday along with mix from Sprinkles to make Red Velvet Cupcakes.  It was a fun activity with my kids and they tasted great.

Another one of her friends from Crested Butte, Catherine Powell said, "Whenever I think of Shannon I think of pink frosted cupcakes in the shape of hearts.  Shannon was baking one day in Crested Butte and brought us those cupcakes.  Could there be a more perfect thought of someone than heart-shaped cupcakes?"

Nicky's in town!

Shannon's sister Nicky came to visit this week.  We took advantage of the
current Hatch green chili days to buy some roasted green chilis and make
cheese enchiladas with green chili sauce which is one of Shannon's favorite meals.
Here is a picture of Nicky peeling the roasted chili peppers.

Upside down

Happy Monday!  I saw this picture on Shannon's computer and I thought that her Alpha Gamma Delta sorority sisters would appreciate the squirrel.  I am sure most of us have had days where we feel upside down and when I do I remember all the obstacles that Shannon has faced over the past 10 years in her fight against cancer.  Take a moment to enjoy your surroundings today and don't forget to sign up to follow this blog.

Here is Adam's description of the photo:  Every year we have a squirrel that builds her nest under the eaves of our greenhouse.  She raises a family there in the late winter/early spring.  They are pretty comfortable with us, and they take advantage of the various food and treats we distribute to all the other critters.  This one, for example, is eating peanuts out of the peanut feeder we put up in our back yard for the woodpeckers.  So long as they stay out of our attic then I figure we can all coexist in harmony.  They are certainly entertaining to watch!

Care Package

Here is an blog entry by Adam White. He also posted on Facebook the other day.  If you haven't ask him to be your friend on Facebook you just might want to search Adam White and look for the profile picture with Shannon and their dog, Canton.

Yesterday afternoon Shannon said, "I sure wish I had a Kashi bar." I went in the kitchen and looked around where we usually keep our stash of such goodies. But we were all out and I had to give Shannon the sad news. She wasn't interested in anything else, either. Then, less than 5 minutes later, the UPS truck pulled up in front of our house. They delivered a shoebox sized container with a return address that just said something like "shipping" -- so we didn't know who might have sent it or what might be inside. We opened the box to find it was full of smaller boxes of all the various kinds of Kashi bars. Mind you, I'm talking about a "big box" large enough to hold a pair of MY shoes -- not a little dainty box that would suffice for someone like Pam! :) So we pulled out box after box after box of Kashi bars. Shannon was ecstatic! Finally at the bottom I found a packing list that identified the sender as Debra M.

So we wanted to say "Thanks Debra -- it was a perfect gift and the timing couldn't have been better!"  Here is Debra Lee Decker-Massing's response on Facebook:  Consider it a randomly dent care package like we got in college.  Tell her I'm sorry Kashi didn't offer Orange Crush otherwise she would have had some!  Adam, I can't put in words what all of us feel who love Shannon more than you'll ever know, so I'll say "thank you" which doesn't begin to say how all of us feel.  I hope to see you both again soon.  Take care and give Shannon a hug for me.

You'll also notice on the table is a Starbucks drink which Shannon usually enjoys daily.  Thanks to Barbara Begnel Buckley for bringing her daily drink and to Rebecca "Becky" Cather Coil, Georgia Wood Sherlag and Jeannie (who use to fly with Shannon at AA) for sending Shannon some Starbucks gift cards.  If you don't have Shannon's address and need it, send me a private text and I'll send it to you.

Sisters

Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are
between you. A girlfriend is never farther away than needing her can
reach. This came from an e-mail that Debra Lee Decker-Massing
received from Kris Koepp. Pictured here is Shannon with her real life
sister, Nicky. They are at a Jimmy Buffet Concert and as you can see
they are both parrot heads.

Snuffer's, Southlake Town Square & Shannon

Today Shannon was craving some cheese fries for Snuffer's. We headed
to Southlake Town Square in 103 degree heat to satisfy our fix.
Shannon's mom is here from Colorado and even sorority sister, Kelly
Perkins-Wilde joined Barb, Adam and I.

1996 Olympic Games

This picture is of me and Shannon from the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, GA.  We attended the gymnastic finals where Team USA won the gold medal.  

Shannon and I have known each other for over 25 years.  We met as Alpha Gamma Delta pledge sisters at University of Oklahoma in 1985.  I will be updating this blog to give friends updates on Shannon Graham's journey. 

Loyally,

Michelle “Missy” Nalley Frohling