Bill Shannon

Bill Shannon, 93, died Sunday, April 20, in his apartment at Bell Park Towers in Torrington, Wyoming. A celebration of life will be held at Colyer Funeral Home in Torrington at 1:00 p.m. Monday, April 28. A reception will follow in the Brand Room at the Goshen County Fairgrounds. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Goshen County 4-H program in Torrington or the Residents’ Fund at Bell Park Towers, in care of Colyer Funeral Home, PO Box 20, Torrington WY 82240. Bill was born on March 8, 1921, in Burlington, Colo., to Francis Perl and Helen Hazel Shannon. His family moved to Campion, Colo., while Bill and his older brother Leo were in elementary school. The boys worked for their father’s vegetable market by selling potatoes door to door from a wagon .Shannon graduated from Loveland High School in 1939. A World War II veteran, Shannon served as a U. S. Army cook in a camp near Calcutta, India. He returned to Loveland in 1946 and married Virginia Lee Armstrong on April 8, 1947. Shannon and his brother owned and operated Derby Hill Market south of Loveland for 43 years, and Shannon served as secretary on the board of Associated Grocers. He also owned the Round Up Western Store, also located on Derby Hill, from 1975 to 1980.In the fall of 1999, Bill and Virginia moved to Torrington, Wyo., where they lived on a small acreage south of town. Very active in horse-related activities, Shannon served on the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo Committee and was a charter member of the Northern Colorado Quarter Horse Association and the Larimer County Sheriff’s Posse. He held all the leadership offices of the Colorado State Posse Organization. He took up team penning in later years and was a charter member of the Rocky Mountain Team Penning Association. Two of his horses qualified for and competed in the team penning competition at the World American Quarter Horse Association Show. Shannon continued to ride horses until he was in his 80’s.In addition to horses, Shannon enjoyed music. He liked to whistle and play the organ, and he played harmonica in several kitchen bands. He was a sign painter, amateur artist, avid letter writer and cowboy poet. He was known for his undying sense of humor and love of people. He was a longtime member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Loveland He is survived by son Jim Shannon of Torrington, daughter Donna (Byron) Juma of Torrington, daughter Mary (Jim) Angell of Cheyenne, grandchildren Kris Shannon of Henderson, Nev.; Jamie Shannon of McMinnville, Tenn.; Amanda Angell of Cheyenne; Brooke, Sabrina, Cameron and Tyler Juma of Torrington; one great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews. Shannon was preceded in death by his parents, brother, wife, and daughter, Carol

Bill Shannon

March 8, 1921 - April 20, 2014