Kazue Sakai Shannon

Kazue Sakai Shannon, age 89, passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 21, 2018 surrounded by her children in Anchorage, Alaska. Kazue was born in Nagoya, Japan the youngest daughter of late Kinzo and Ei Sakai.  She met and married her husband Silas Shannon, Jr. who served in the Air Force during the Korean War.  Kazue had worked as a bookkeeper, but left Japan and came to the United States in 1957 and became a U.S. citizen in 1974.  She lived a majority of her life in Alaska (1961-1974), Maryland (1976-2013), and back to Alaska (2013-2018).  She was a devoted homemaker who sacrificed for her family.  During the last several years, her children were able to fulfill her wishes with cherished memories. Kazue is survived by her daughter Debra Shannon (Patrick Maness and his children Schevae Maness, Patrick Maness, and Kaley Maness) of Alaska; daughter Joyce Busch of Virginia; and son Cedric Shannon (Kellie Shannon) and grandsons Christopher Shannon, Zachary Shannon, and Matthew Shannon of Maryland. Kazue was preceded in death by her husband of 40 years Silas Shannon, Jr. (December 27, 1997); father Kinzo Sakai; mother Ei Mutsura Sakai; four sisters Hatsuko Sakai, Toshiko Sakai, Yoshiko Sakai, and Masako, Sakai; and brother Akinori Sakai. Family will receive friends Monday, February 12, 2018 from 11 to 12pm at Beall Funeral Home, 6512 NW Crain (Rt. 3 South), Bowie, MD; followed by a funeral service at 12pm.  She will be buried with her husband at Cheltenham Veterans’ Cemetery in Cheltenham, Maryland.  There will be a celebration of life at Legacy Heritage Chapel at Angelus in Anchorage, Alaska on Saturday, March 3, 2018.In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation be made in Kazue's name to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22478,Oklahoma City, OK 73123. If you want to have an acknowledgement card sent out to the someone for the Honor or Memorial donation, please include the following information on a separate piece of paper with the check: -   Your name, address, and phone number -   The name and address of the family to receive the announcement card -   The first and last name of the deceased -   The signature, as you wish to appear on the announcement card.