Mary Lester (Shannon) Crain

Mary Lester (Shannon) Crain

Age 80, died on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 in Appleton.

Mary Armistead Lester was born May 12, 1924 in Shreveport, Louisiana, the middle child of Ruth Ava Armistead and Ed Farrington Lester, and grew up on the west bank of the Red River, across from Coushatta, Louisiana.

After graduating from Coushatta High School, she continued her study of music (piano) at Louisiana State Normal College in Natchitoches for two years and then at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. She was a member of Alpha Sigma Alpha and Phi Beta.

In 1945 she married Edwin R. Shannon and moved to Appleton, Wisconsin. Her three children were born to that marriage: Michael Robert Shannon, Scott Lester Shannon and Rachel Mary Shannon.

In 1975 she moved to Shreveport, La. and was subsequently married to Dr. A. Penn Crain. After his death in 1982 she returned to Appleton to be near her adult children, and to continue her community activities among new and old friends. She served on the United Fund Board and was a founding board member of Friends of Hearthstone. Mary was an accomplished pianist and an active member of Piano Group and Wednesday Musicale. She served two terms on the Fox Valley Symphony Board. Mary was an ordained elder in the Memorial Presbyterian Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother Dr. Roy T. Lester and his wife Roberta, husband Penn Crain, sister Ruth Lester Adkins, and son Scott Lester Shannon.

She is survived by children Michael Robert Shannon (Jody Marks) of Duluth, Minnesota; Rachel Mary Shannon (Stephen Weis) of Appleton; sister Ava Louise Nelson (James D. Nelson, deceased) of Rockwall, Texas; brother Ed F. Lester, Jr. (Betty) of Coushatta, Louisiana; brother-in-law W. D. Adkins of Allen, Texas, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A memorial service of thanksgiving for Mary’s life will be led by the Reverend Charles Valenti-Hein at Memorial Presbyterian Church, 803 E. College Ave., Appleton at 1:00 P. M. on Friday, April 22, 2005. Visitation in the church parlor will begin at 12:00 noon and a reception there will follow the service.

Memorials in Mary’s name may be directed to Memorial Presbyterian Church, Fox Valley Symphony or charity of choice.

WICHMANN FUNERAL HOME
537 N. Superior St.
Appleton WI 53911
(920)739-1231