Shannon McCall, nee Patterson, passed away on 26 January 2025, surrounded by her entire immediate family. Shannon sought beauty and joy wherever life took her around the world, though her time ended barely sixteen miles from where her life began. Shannon Kay Patterson was born on 12 February 1947 in Norfolk, Virginia. She was the first hospital-born child in a family whose Tidewater-tether began with Jamestown in 1607.

The world was her home as she was a Naval officer's daughter. She was drawn to Colonial Williamsburg as she followed in her mother's footsteps as a student at The College of William & Mary, paying homage to her mother, W&M class of 1943. While at W&M, Shannon met her husband of over 56 years, Dr. W.J. (Bill) McCall, Jr., W&M class of 1966. They married in Washington, D.C. upon her 1968 commencement, then they made their first home in Richmond as Bill completed dental school at the Medical College of Virginia. She was then an Army wife who made their home in Maryland and then Texas. Since 1972, she built her life in Hampton as a wife, as a mother, and as a grandmother. After a brief time in Willow Oaks, she made her final home along the waterfront where she daily oversaw the waters on which her great great grandfather and Olde Wythe-native, Richard Wallace Curtis, served as a gunner on the CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack ) during the epic Ironclad Battle of Hampton Roads during the American Civil War. Shannon managed Bill's dental practice, which continues to serve Hampton.

Shannon was an Olde Guarde member of The College of William & Mary as a magna cum laude Fine Arts graduate, W&M class of 1968. High school began in Arlington, Virginia at Washington-Lee High School and concluded when she graduated from Forrest Sherman High School in Naples, Italy, class of 1964. Italy was her favorite duty station as she loved its language and works of art, especially those of Michaelangelo; additionally, she grew to appreciate and eventually emulate her own gorgeous marble sculptures.

The Hampton Yacht Club played a role in Shannon's life for over 50 years as a social outlet, always having enjoyed meeting family or friends for lunch, costume parties, or just a quiet time to herself to work on a project usually at her favorite corner table. Shannon served as president of the Dental Wives Auxiliary and was an active member of the Junior League of Hampton Roads when she illustrated and co-authored their original Children's Party Book , then she served on the committee for Virginia Hospitality among numerous cookbooks. Shannon's love of needlework grew as a member of The Rose and Thistle Chapter of the Embroiderer's Guild of America. Her needlepoint pieces won many ribbons when entered in various Golden Thimble Needlecraft Guild shows.

Her support of Catholic education was a constant North Star. She supported Saint Mary Star of the Sea School in Phoebus as a parent and Art teacher, and Peninsula Catholic High School in Newport News as both a parent and grandparent. She threw the best birthday parties for her children, she loved being a homeroom mother, she was always class field trip chaperone, and she held more volunteer roles than there are stars. Scouting was woven through her life as her husband and grandson are both Eagle Scouts, and all her children were active scouts.

Always an artist, Shannon continued creative passions throughout her life. As a young girl, she was rarely found without a pencil and sketchbook. As a young woman, she was rarely found far from an art museum or sculpture studio. Her true fine art passion was pen and ink with her favorite Micron pens as she illustrated, among others, a stunning series of stippling Christmas cards. She was rarely far from a camera as she would capture her children's events at school, church, scouts and swimming. She shot many stunning photos along the Colonial Parkway, around Hampton and even waterfalls from West Virginia to Ireland. She felt closest to her Catholic faith and those who already passed, by sharing her first soprano gift with hundreds of families as she sang at weddings and funerals over decades from Hampton to Ireland. Her concerts were mostly local yet also included a Canadian tour. She was an active member of the Virginia Choral Society, where she participated in many performances. Shannon sang as a cantor at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church and St. John's Episcopal Church.

Shannon was preceded in death by her youngest child and beloved son Connor Ryan McCall, sister Holly Patterson and parents Capt. Joseph Patterson, Jr., U.S. Navy (Ret.) and Virginia Lee Patterson, nee Curtis. She is survived by her husband Bill; children, Caitlin (Michael), Meghan (Kristina) and Kyle (Jennifer); sister, Linda (Mark) and grandson, Quinconnor, W&M class of 2028.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Muench at 10:00 AM, 20 February 2025 at St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 7 Frank Lane on Fort Monroe, Virginia. Friends and family will gather for a reception immediately following at St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Hampton at 100 West Queens Way. At a later date, Shannon will be privately interred. She who sang like an angel, will forevermore be with her littlest angel Connor alongside five generations of family at Norfolk's Forest Lawn Cemetery.

May she rest with her son for the long quiet night among quiet stars and may her faithful soul rest at the right hand of God, until we meet again.

Shannon wished for any expressions of sympathy to support Norfolk's Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in memory of Connor Ryan McCall, at www.chkd.org/support-us/donate/.

Arrangements are by the caring and dedicated team at Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825 8070.