February 7, 1937 – September 26, 2025
James (Jim) Dennis Shannon, 88, of Houston, Texas passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025. James was fondly known by his wife, Judy, and close family as “Denny”. James was born in Houston, Texas on February 7, 1937 to Homer Shannon and Lillian Riley and spent his childhood and teenage years in the Houston area. James attended Stephen F. Austin High School and also played with the Houston area city softball leagues playing for the Epworth softball team in the mid-50’s. This experience came in handy as he coached his sons for many years in the Pearland Little League.
James received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. He married his high school and college sweetheart Judy Williams in 1958. After college he worked for three years with RCA in New Jersey. They then returned to Texas and settled in the Pearland area (moving much later to Clear Lake City) where he started a 37-year career with NASA/Johnson Space Center starting with the Landing & Recovery group and primarily working within the Mission Operations Directorate providing support for Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, MIR and Shuttle programs. After retirement he focused on his hobbies – woodworking and creating beautiful large stained-glass Tiffany styled lamps in his studio.
Preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Judy, he is survived by their three children – twins Jennifer LeStourgeon (husband Greg) and Kenneth Shannon (wife Rona) and son John Shannon (wife Yvette).
James is survived by nine grandchildren – Byron LeStourgeon (wife Patricia), Brendan LeStourgeon, Stephanie Corbridge (husband Justin), Daniel Shannon (wife Katie), Chris Shannon (wife Sierra), Keith Shannon, Scott Shannon, Sarabeth Shannon, and Charlotte Shannon. Twelve great-grandchildren – Evelyn LeStourgeon, Kinsler Corbridge, Braelynn Corbridge, Gwendolyn Corbridge, Wiley Shannon, Tyler Shannon, Adrian Shannon, Brody Shannon, Nolan Shannon, Finn Shannon, Mason Shannon and Cooper Shannon.
The family wishes to thank the nurses, caregivers and staff at The Cottages at Clear Lake for the excellent care, patience and compassion James received during his last two months. We would also like to thank his many Brookwood neighbors who helped him out over the years.
Friends are cordially invited to the visitation and service with the family on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M. at the Jeter Memorial Funeral Home, 311 N. Friendswood Dr., Friendswood, Texas 77546. Interment will follow at Forest Park East Cemetery in Webster, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to our parent’s favorite charities would be appreciated. These include The Houston Food Bank, 535 Portwall, Houston, Texas www.houstonfoodbank.org/donate, The Star of Hope Mission, 6897 Ardmore, Houston, Texas 77054 www.sohmission.org or the SPCA of Houston, 900 Portway Dr., Houston, TX 77024 www.houstonspca.org.
11 thoughts on “James Dennis Shannon”
My sincere condolences to the family! I’m sending my thoughts and prayers!
Jim was a good friend and very good engineer for NASA. May he rest in peace and my condolences to the family.
John O’Loughlin
Uncle Denny was a kind man and he loved his family.
I admired him.
My deepest condolences to the family as they say goodbye to their loved one. I know he will be missed.
On more than one occasion Jim kept me out of trouble at JSC…a true friend!
Jim will be truly missed. Worked with him for quite a few years in Mission Operations Directorate at JSC. Prayers of peace and comfort to the family.
I had the honor to work with Jim while I was in MOD. He was always great to talk to and to share a joke with. My sympathy goes out to you.
It was a real pleasure to work with and for Jim…glad I was able to do that!
I worked for Jim in Mission Operations at NASA. He was a very generous and strategic leader who looked out for his team. He will be missed but his legacy lives on forever. He will always be fondly remembered by all those whose lives that he touched.
The entire Shannon family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Mr. Shannon was my first mentor at JSC. His profound advice was very instrumental to my NASA career. Praying that the Lord sustains the family.
Dennis and Joyce were my Dad’s first cousins. In the 50’s we were neighbors off of Telephone Road. Aunt Shanghai was close to me