Obituary of Ronald Harlow Shannon

November 18, 1934 – Bawlf, Alberta

April 23, 2023 - Calgary, Alberta

It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of Husband, Father, and Grandfather, Ron Shannon on Sunday, April 23^rd, 2023, at the age of 88 years. A staple of the oil and gas industry in Calgary, Ron’s loss is not only being felt by his family, but by all his co-workers and associates that he developed strong relationships with over his 65 years of work in the industry.

Born in Bawlf on November 18, 1934, to Harlow and Florence (Wetterberg) Shannon, Ron spent his younger years helping his dad run the Red & White grocery store in Bawlf, and a subsequent store in Alberta Beach. Later, after graduating from McTavish Business School, he would start working for Flint in June of 1956, where he remained for 42 years. During his time with Flint, he met his wife Gayla (O’Riordan) Shannon while working in Whitecourt, AB and they were married on September 7,1968. They would have three children after Ron was transferred to Red Deer before moving to Calgary in 1979 to take over Flint as President and eventually CEO. After the fall of communism in Russia, Flint Canada, under Ron’s stewardship, was one of the first oil and gas companies in North America to do business there under the company name Flint Eurasia.  After retiring in 1998, Ron would buy the assets of Flint Eurasia from Flint Canada and travel to Russia 52 times, helping to build another successful company before selling it in 2008. During this time, he also founded Strike Energy Services in 2004 with his former Flint Canada VP Stephen Smith. Within 3 years Strike was recognized as one of Canada’s 50 best managed companies with sales over $20 million. Ron, an innovator in the industry not only in terms of management techniques, but safety standards and practices, was inducted into the Canadian Oilmen’s Hall of Fame in 2011 and recognized in the Pioneer Room at the Petroleum Club in 2022. He would remain with Strike right up to his death in 2023.

Outside of his work, Ron had many philanthropic interests including the support of the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Fort Calgary, United Way, and the Building Hope Society which provided a school for children in Kenya. Ron was also an avid traveler having visited several countries on all seven continents.

Ron is survived by his wife of 54 years Gayla (O’Riordan) Shannon, his sons, Kelly Robert Harlow Shannon, Ryan Patrick Shannon, and Tyler (Linsey) Ronald Shannon; and his grandchildren, Riley Ronald Douglas Shannon, and Cary Frances Gayla Shannon; and his faithful companion Nakoda, all of Calgary, AB. He is also survived by his sister Pat Roloff, and brother Grant (Linnea) Shannon, of Edmonton, AB, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins across Canada.

Ron was predeceased by his brother Doug Shannon and his wife Florence (Gilson) of Creston, BC, brother-in-law Bob Roloff, and his nephew Terry Shannon of Edmonton, AB.

A Celebration of Ron’s Life will be held at the Calgary Petroleum Club (McMurray Room, 319 5 Ave SW, Calgary, AB) on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared and viewed here. If friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Doctors Without Borders, www.msf.ca, Operation Eyesight Universal, www.operationeyesight.com, Operation Smile Canada, www.operationsmile.ca, or to the Building Hope Society, www.buildinghopesociety.com.

In living memory of Ron Shannon, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes, Fish Creek, 14441 Bannister Road SE, Calgary, Ab t2x 3j3, Telephone: 403-256-9575.