THERESE "TERRI" JEAN SHANNON CLARK passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2010 in Houston, Texas. She was born February 29, 1952 in Fort Belvoir, Virginia to Col. William Earl Shannon and Elizabeth Jean Pruden Shannon. As the daughter of an Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross veteran and Staff Judge Advocate Europe, Terri spent her childhood in several places, including Germany and Panama. She attended high school in Virginia, graduating in 1970. She received her Bachelor of Science in Geology from Auburn University, along with minors in German and Education, in 1973. After graduation, Terri married James Edward Clark, Jr.
In 1982, Terri and James relocated to Beaumont, and she began teaching at St. Anne's Catholic School. From 1984 to 2006, Terri taught at Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School in Beaumont, TX. She was nationally recognized for her work in teaching the environmental and biological sciences. She and her students received the TAPESTRY Award Toyota Appreciation Program for Excellence To Science Teachers Reaching Youth in 1992, the Texas Governor's Award in 1993, the Anheuser-Busch 1993 "A Pledge and A Promise" Environmental Award, and the President's Youth Award in 1994. In 1993, Texas Senate Resolution No. 813 and City of Beaumont Proclamations recognized Terri and her students for their work in environmental education. She was selected in 1996 as a Genentech Access Excellence Fellow by being one of America's 100 most creative high school biology teachers.
Terri is preceded in death by her father Col. William Earl Shannon and nephew Caleb Shannon. She is survived by her husband of 36 years, James Edward Clark, Jr., daughters Shannon Clark Thorne, Elizabeth Louise Clark, and Jamie Lee Clark, son-in-law Charles Brian Thorne, and granddaughters Kathryn James Thorne and Carolyn Therese Thorne. She is also survived by mother Elizabeth Pruden Shannon, siblings Patricia Shannon, William Shannon, Jr., Michael Shannon, Virginia Barlow, Elizabeth Sarnie, and Kathleen Domingo; and by many nieces and nephews.
She was an active member of St. Jude Catholic Church for over 25 years. The last 5 years, she fought a rare cancer with incredible strength, bravery, and hope. A rosary will be said at 7:00 P.M. Friday, January 22, 2010 at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church in Beaumont. A Memorial Service and Mass will be held Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11 A.M. at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, with a gathering of friends and family following the service at St. Jude Catholic Church Hall.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to M.D. Anderson Palliative Care Department www.mdanderson.org/gifts , St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church, or Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School Science Department. For more information about her amazing life and accomplishments, please visit: http://web.me.com/clarkjejr/www.terrisclark.com/In_Memoriam.html