From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

Obituaries

the Inland Register

(From the Aug. 22, 2002 edition of the Inland Register)

Providence Sister Rita of the Sacred Heart (Vera Ellen) Mudd died Aug. 3 at Mount St. Joseph, Spokane. She had been a member of the Providence community for 69 of her 87 years.

The vigil service was Aug. 6; the funeral Mass, Aug. 7. Both took place at Mount St. Joseph. Burial at Holy Cross Cemetery followed the Mass.

She was born in Marysville, Mont., and graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, Missoula. In 1933 she entered the Providence novitiate; she took first vows in 1934 and final vows in 1937.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Great Falls, a master’s degree in sociology from Gonzaga University, and a Ph.D. in education from St. Louis University. Addition post-graduate work was done at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

Most of her ministry was dedicated to teaching and administration in schools throughout the inner West, including St. John, Colfax, and St. Joseph Academy, Sprague, in the Spokane Diocese.

She also served as the third president of the University of Great Falls.

In 1969 she joined the Office for Urban Affairs; in 1971 she became Assistant Director of the Center for Urban Ethnic Affairs.

Two years later she accepted a post as Executive Secretary of the National Catechetical Directory, sponsored by the United States Catholic Conference. She stayed in that post until 1977.

She retired to Mount St. Joseph in 2000.

Jesuit Father David King died July 31 at Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane. He was 84 years old.

The vigil service was held Aug. 2 at Jesuit House Chapel in Spokane. The funeral Mass was celebrated there as well, the next morning. Burial followed at Mt. St. Michael.

He was born in Portland, Ore., where he attended grade school. He graduated from Seattle Prep and then entered the Jesuit novitiate at Sheridan, Ore., in 1936.

He pronounced first vows in 1938. He completed philosophy studies at Mt. St. Michael, Spokane, in 1943, and theology at Alma College, Los Gatos, Calif., in 1950.

In 1949 he was ordained a deacon and then a priest at St. Mary Cathedral, San Francisco, and in 1954 pronounced his final vows as a Jesuit, at St. Joseph Church, Yakima.

He taught at Jesuit high schools in the Northwest and at the Jesuit novitiate.

Father King engaged in pastoral ministry in Portland, Ore., from 1990-2002, when he moved, in ill health, to the Jesuit infirmary in Spokane.

Jesuit Father Michael Shannon, a native of Ireland, died Aug. 10. He was 91.

The vigil service was Aug. 13 at Jesuit House Chapel in Spokane. The funeral Mass was celebrated the next day, also at Jesuit House. Burial was at Mt. St. Michael.

Father Shannon attended grade school and high school in Spokane and in other cities before entering the Jesuit novitiate at Sheridan, Ore., in 1932.

He pronounced his first vows in 1934.

He studied philosophy at Mt. St. Michael, Spokane, and theology at Alma College, Los Gatos, Calif. In 1944 he was ordained a priest at St. Mary Cathedral, San Francisco, and in 1946 completed his training as a Jesuit.

Father Shannon served a number of parishes over the years, including Sacred Heart Mission in DeSmet, Idaho, and St. Mary Parish, Potlatch, Idaho.

He retired to the Jesuits’ Regis Community in Spokane in 1995.

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