Carole Grant

Carole Lynn Shannon Grant was born on June 1, 1943, in West Helena, Arkansas, to Robert Phillip Shannon Sr. and Carolyn Gresham Shannon. The second of three children, she grew up alongside her brothers Walter Gresham Shannon, who died young, and Robert Phillip Shannon Jr. Her early years in West Helena were filled with joy and laughter, especially among a close-knit group of four neighborhood girls born the same summer who remained lifelong friends. An excellent student, Carole played clarinet in the high school band, enjoyed the piano, and served as a baton twirler during marching season. In her senior year, she met Jim Grant on a blind date arranged by his roommate’s mother. The couple celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on November 6, 2025.

After high school, Carole graduated from Methodist Hospital School of Nursing and devoted many years to her career as a registered nurse. She worked in hospital settings, then in an oncology clinic, and concluded her professional life as a home health nurse. She and Jim raised three children—Caroline, Pattie, and James “Scooter”—each of whom brought her deep joy. She was also blessed with a son-in-law, Doug, a daughter-in-law, Jaime, and four grandchildren: Cassie and Timothy Munnell, and Jacob and Jackson. She cherished her family and took great pride in each of them.

Carole and Jim moved from West Helena to Eureka, California, then to Clarksville, Arkansas, and finally to Sherwood, making dear friends at every stop. In their empty-nest years, they began traveling together, progressing from tent camping to a small pop-up camper and eventually a fifth-wheel trailer. Their journeys took them across the United States and into Canada. They marked their 40th anniversary with a trip to Hawaii, later spent five months exploring Alaska, and eventually visited all 50 states. Carole also had the opportunity to tour Israel with Jim and to participate in mission trips to Kenya several times and to Haiti once.

Her faith remained the steady foundation of her life. Even in her final years, as dementia darkened her days, she could often be heard softly singing “Jesus Loves Me.” At her 80th birthday celebration, she joined in singing “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” as best she could. Carole died peacefully in her sleep on March 6, 2026. She is survived by her husband of 60 years, Jim Grant; her children, Caroline Grant, Pattie Grant Munnell, and Scooter Grant; her grandchildren, Cassie Munnell, Timothy Munnell, Jacob Wood, and Jackson Grant; and her brother, Phil Shannon. She leaves behind a legacy of love, service, and quiet trust in God.