Dates
Savell Charles Shannon finally experienced complete healing on April 27, 2025 at the age of 63. He passed into Heaven while surrounded by family, food, and fun stories shared by some of his favorite people. Services will take place at First Baptist Church, Sonora, Texas on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Savell was born on June 26, 1961 in Fruita, Colorado. He attended Alpine High School in Alpine, Texas before he graduated from Angelo State University (ASU) with a BS in Animal Science with a concentration in Animal Production, and completed the Ranch Management Program at TCU (GO FROGS!!!). Savell managed ranches in Oklahoma and other parts of Texas before finally settling down in his ancestral home of Sonora, Texas where he spent the rest of his career managing his family’s ranch while working in natural gas production so he could.
Savell first distinguished himself as one of the world’s wisest men when he married his high school sweetheart, Shelly Dawn Hofacket (born 1962) forty years ago. Savell considered this to be his life’s greatest accomplishment, rivaled only by the raising of his two sons, Tate Edward Shannon (born 1998) and Evan Savell Shannon (born 2000). While he attributed all his sons’ successes to the influence of their mother, those who witnessed his years of volunteering in his church’s children’s ministry and youth group, in the local Cub Scouts, as a coach for tee-ball, little league, and Little Dribblers, and in the local 4-H club know that he was a loving, patient friend and role model to dozens of boys and young men in the community in addition to his own sons.
Savell served as a deacon and a member of several core committees at First Baptist Church Sonora where he was a member for 26 years. He also served in leadership at Paisano Baptist Encampment where he helped construct the dormitory that still serves his church over two decades later. Savell was known for his skilled dancing, innumerable hilarious stories, love of Blue Bell ice cream, his time spent golfing, fishing, scuba diving, and working on his ’76 Toyota Land Cruiser.
Even though his body eventually succumbed to complications related to early-onset Alzheimer’s, his spirit never faltered: Unlike so many, he expressed unwavering love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control even through the latest stages of his 10-year battle with the disease that eventually killed him. This is a direct result of Savell’s lifelong, personal relationship with his friend and savior, Jesus Christ.
His father, Charles Edward Shannon Jr.—from whom Savell inherited his lifelong passion for ranching—preceded him in death in 2004. Savell is survived by his two sons, Tate and Evan; his wife of 40 years, Shelly who, like Savell, demonstrated that she really meant it when she said, “for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward until death do us part;” his older brother, Matt Edward Shannon; and his dedicated, loving mother, Vicki Jo Savell Shannon, a shining example of dedicated, self-sacrificial motherhood who provided tender comfort and exemplary care at both the beginning and end of Savell’s life.
We give a special thanks to those who cared for Savell in his final days: Melva Vallejo, Hunter Jennings Hohensee, Hillary Lawson Galindo, and Laci Demere Longoria. Thanks also to the many people who loved Savell through it all, showing patience, forgiveness, and joy until the end. We are also extremely grateful for the many meals delivered and visits made to us during Savell’s time in hospice care.
Pallbearers are James Jaeger, Mark Bradley, Bill “Chip” Savell Jr., Cody Savell, Scott Savell, Craig Demere, Wade Demere, Cory Hofacket, and Pete Hofacket.
In lieu of flowers, please give memorials to First Baptist Church Sonora (First Baptist Church, 111 East Oak Street, Sonora, Texas 76950 or http://fbcsonora.net/giving), or to Paisano Baptist Encampment (Palmetto Ventures LLC, PAISANO BAPTIST ASSEMBLY, C/O Angela Becker, 6 Desta Drive Suite 2670, Midland, TX 79705 with Savell Shannon’s name), or to your favorite charity.