M. ETHYLENE WOODSHANNON
August 22, 1931 — March 11, 2021
On Thursday, March 11, 2021, Mary Ethylene Wood-Shannon, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, passed away at the age of 89. Ethylene was born on August 22, 1931 to Frank and Ethyl Spence in Lillington, North Carolina. She received her princess status as the youngest girl of the ten children in her family. For much of her early life, Ethylene’s home was in Dunn, North Carolina where she was beloved, proven by her election as Miss Overalls at the Dunn County Fair.
Ethylene attended Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri where she met her first husband, Ernest Wood and earned her degree in education and her teaching credential some years later from Bethany University in Santa Cruz, California. She and Ernie spent many years in church ministry in Memphis, Tennessee, missionary work in the Philippines and administration work at Bethany University. In true Ethylene fashion, she did not let her degrees or expectations of others contain her to a specific job market and spent much of her career being an executive assistant, most notably for evangelist, CM Ward. Ahead of this career, Ethylene was also a model with John Robert Powers, a double for Linda Evans in the television show Dynasty and a guest speaker for numerous events. Meeting her second husband, Robert Shannon, through friends, they married in 1990 and spent over 30 glorious years together traveling the world and socializing with friends.
Aside from her career, her true life calling was to share the love of God with every person she encountered. Ethylene had wonderful opportunities to spread God’s word to people from Eastern Europe to the Philippines on her many mission trips. She was very thankful for her visits to the Holy Land and shared her learnings to touch the lives of as many people as possible.
Ethylene was a fabulous social butterfly, known for her ability to connect with anyone and her sparkly sense of fashion. She loved to go shopping, not only for the clothing, but for the experience of supporting small businesses and making new friends along the way. Ethylene adored her friends, old and new, and loved getting together for weekly lunches (and a glass of Chardonnay) around Stockton, specifically at De Vega Brothers, Papapavlos, and Midgley’s. On most weekend evenings, Ethylene could be spotted tearing up the dance floor with her late second husband, Robert Shannon. They loved to go out together, whether it be an evening in Stockton or a vacation in Reno or Hawaii, and they always did it with flair. Ethylene was noticed by everyone everywhere she went for her bedazzled wardrobe, but she will always be remembered for her far more dazzling personality and genuine love for others.
Ethylene is preceded in death by her husband, Robert Shannon, who we know has been eagerly waiting to twirl her around heaven’s dance floor. In heaven she will also be reunited with her siblings and parents. She is survived by her daughter, Tamara (Todd) Dillon; her grandchildren, Celeste (Kevin) Pence and Nick (Erica) Somera, Braeden Dillon, Preston Dillon and Grayson Dillon; her greatgranddaughter, Lillian Pence; and her sister, Doris Mozelle Tyndall. Ethylene is also survived by her stepdaughters, Kelly (Scott) Shannon, Kim and Kristy Shannon and their children and grandchildren.
Due to coronavirus restrictions a private service was held on Thursday, March 25, 2021. The family would like to thank Satellite Dialysis and Lincoln Square Post Acute Care for their above and beyond personal care. In lieu of flowers or donations, Ethylene would want you to trust in God to take care of you, drink a glass of Chardonnay and wear your flashiest sunglasses whenever outdoors.
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