Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
Shannon L. McCarthy passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, on April 14, 2026, in Eugene, Oregon. She was 79 years old.
Born on Dec. 31, 1946, in Vancouver, Washington, Shannon was the second of eight children born to Charles and Helen (Miller) McCarthy. After the family moved to The Dalles, Oregon, she attended St. Mary’s Academy and graduated from The Dalles High School. She attended Marylhurst College, and completed the University of Oregon’s innovative graduate program in therapeutic recreation, beginning a lifelong journey of learning, service and advocacy. Early in her career with the city of Eugene Parks and Recreation Department, she helped establish a pioneering adaptive recreation program, creating opportunities for people with disabilities that allowed them to more fully participate in community life. The program continues more than 50 years later, reflecting the lasting impact of her vision and commitment.
She also helped edit the Oregon Atlas in the 1970s, conducted data research in the University of Oregon Chancellor’s Office, and joined the Oregon Social Learning Center’s Youth Study in 1983, along with many other impactful projects.
Shannon embraced life fully. She loved traveling, hiking, gardening, baking, knitting. She filled her life with family, friendships, meaningful work, spirited conversations, laughter, travel, music, and service to others. Every community she joined was stronger because she was part of it. If she welcomed you into her life, you became part of her story. She maintained friendships across decades and distances, and every friendship she made was one she intended to keep for life, and often did.
Shannon had style, confidence and a wonderful sense of humor. She knew how to have fun. She could dress beautifully for the theater one evening and dress as a cow for the Eugene Celebration Parade on another. She was at home in wig and tutu for the Umbrella Drill Team at Yachats LaDeDa parades, or the country fair. She brought her extensive costume boxes to family reunions for all to share. She understood that joy mattered and humor was invaluable.
But above all, Shannon loved her family, and all her extended family.
As a young woman, she married Ray Dodson in The Dalles. They moved to Eugene and, although their marriage ended in 1978, she kept hold of the friendship.
She met Thomas Chambliss in Eugene; they married and welcomed their son Sam into the world in 1981. Being a mother to Sam was Shannon’s greatest joy, seconded only by the arrival of two grandchildren. She held them dear in her heart, and the grandkids truly adored their Nini. Although Shannon and Thom’s marriage ended around 1998, they remained close friends and continued to share many important family moments together, especially those involving their grandchildren.
Shannon met Marv Wigle when they both worked for Oregon’s University systems. Together they built a life filled with travel, music, the arts, friendship, and adventure. They married, retired to Yachats, Oregon, and spent 20 years immersing themselves in the coastal community, where Shannon was a volunteer librarian at the Yachats Library, joined the Yachats Ladies Club, and contributed to the community she came to love.
Marv passed away in 2020 and eventually Shannon moved back to Eugene to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law and grandchildren.
Shannon is survived by her son Sam (Lisa) Chambliss; her grandchildren Cooper and Piper Chambliss; siblings Michael McCarthy, Dennis (Jett) McCarthy, Patti Jo McCarthy, Mary Ann (Ron) Fujii, Kevin (Renee) McCarthy, Brian (Deborah) McCarthy, and Catherine “Casey” (Paul) DePriest; and nieces and nephews.
We will miss her more than words can say.
A small service was held in Yachats with family and close friends per Shannon’s request.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) entries
Sign the guestbook.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.