Shannon Perry Hallman died from cancer at UNC Hospitals December 10, 2011. Shannon was born to Margaret Shannon and John Frank Hallman on August 15, 1935, in Union County, NC, and married Judith Huntress Hallman on June 3, 1961. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in June.

Shannon graduated from Monroe High School in 1953, where his friends called him Gatemouth and he became a cheerleader after breaking teeth playing football. He was an Eagle Scout, served in the US Army as a Cryptographer (1955-1960), earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1962, and completed some graduate work in Psychology. He worked in health research at UNC-Chapel Hill until retirement and, after retirement, as a dishwasher at the Carolina Coffee Shop, where he developed many more lasting friendships. And for about 20 years, he spent one or two days a week driving people to medical appointments for Transportation Services, Red Cross, Durham.

Shannon was a warm, caring, unique character and a life-long learner, who loved reading on the Internet as well as from books. His matter-of-fact explanations and observations always amazed and amused his friends. The Internet also sharpened his interest in art and history. During the 70s and 80s, Shannon was one of the regulars at Jeff's Confectionery (the local pub), where folks from all walks of life gathered for conversation, both erudite and mundane. He loved good conversation, good food, beer, wine, spices, cigars, unusual foods and cooking unusual dishes. He enjoyed solitude, nature, quality vs. quantity, unusual plants, simple beauty. He kept everything and could fix most anything, eventually, repurposing things in his Rube Goldberg way.

No services are planned. Donations may be made to Shannon's favorite charity, Doctors without Borders, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/donate/. Online Condolences CremationSocietyNC.com