Shannon Lance Ivey Jr.

Shannon Lance Ivey, Jr., 26, of Lumberton, passed away on Monday, October 25th, 2021. He was born on August 24, 1995, in Pasadena, Texas, to Melanie Jean Mahana Bourne and Shannon Lance Ivey.

Lance was raised in Lumberton, Texas, by his mother, Melanie, and step-father, Tres Bourne. He was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Lance graduated in 2014 from Lumberton High School. In 2016, Lance enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served proudly until his honorable release in 2018.

Throughout his life, Lance demonstrated a beautiful love for people; anyone who met him felt of his pure heart and genuine goodness. He had the most beautiful smile, and he shared it without reservation. Lance’s hugs were legendary, and they were given out liberally! They were the kind you still felt long after the hug was over, and you hoped hadn’t fractured your spine.

Incredibly, although Lance experienced unfathomable pain in this life, he never let his personal struggles diminish his capacity to show love to others, including total strangers. He cared very much about helping people feel special, and empathy was a hallmark of his heart. Lance didn’t judge others. Ever. His love was an unconditional, Christlike offering to all that were fortunate enough to cross his path. If you were lucky, Lance was your food delivery guy, or better yet:  your Uber driver, for then you’d have time to tell him your life story, as he listened with sincere compassion and responded with the caring heart he was so well-known for. Whether it was playing football with children from his apartment complex, or helping a neighbor carry their groceries, truly, he embodied the notion: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

Lance’s gentle gifts didn’t just apply to people; he was equally tender with animals, and was especially crazy about dogs. His beloved dog, Diamond, was a permanent fixture in his life and heart. Anytime Lance had an opportunity to pet a dog, be licked by a dog, or offer a belly-rub to a dog, he took it!

Lance had a great appreciation for humor, and was sometimes the only one who thought something was funny. His laugh was so infectious, though, that it often triggered the gut-busting response he so enjoyed hearing in others. One time, however, Lance wasn’t laughing--at least, not at first. As a 12-year-old young man on his first Scout trip, Lance and his best buddy, Spencer (together known as “Splancer”), got stuck in their tent when the zipper wouldn’t open while camping at Mustang Island State Park. After several panicky minutes, the boys suddenly remembered that they were, in fact, Boy Scouts, and they magically solved their dilemma by cutting their way out of the tent with a pocket knife. They spent the rest of the night “sleeping” in the troop’s food tent, and a new tent had to be delivered to camp the next day. This was the hilarious start of an eventful scouting journey, which ultimately led Lance to earning his Eagle Scout Award in 2014.

Throughout his life, time with family and friends meant everything to Lance. He loved meeting family he hadn’t met before, and he always felt an unexplained connection to his Uncle Troy, who died a year before Lance was born. Lance also had a uniquely special relationship with his mother, Melanie. He regarded her as his most trusted confidante, cheerleader, and friend. Lance was the ultimate big brother, a protector and friend. He was his sisters’ biggest fan and never missed a dance recital when Hailey performed. Together, Lance and Hailey were blessed to travel with their parents and make sweet memories in places like: Disney World, New York City, The Bahamas, and The Virgin Islands. Lance also cherished their trips to visit family in Utah, tickets to watch the Astros or Cowboys play ball, and the once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing his favorite comedian at the time, Weird Al Yankovich, perform live in Houston. In 2015, Lance had the thrilling adventure of going sky-diving, much to his delight and his mother’s distress!

Lance’s vibrant light and embrace will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His family is comforted in knowing that he is at peace with God, and they look forward with great anticipation to the day they will feel his embrace, again. 

Lance is survived by his parents, Melanie and Tres Bourne of Lumberton; sisters, Hailey Mahana Bourne and Elizabeth Ivey; grandparents, Melvin and Linda Mahana, Allan and Pamela Adkins, and Alston “Buddy” Bourne, Jr.; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

A gathering of Lance’s family and friends will be from 1:00 p.m. until 2:45 p.m., Saturday, November 6th, 2021, at Lumberton Family Funeral Home, 766 S Main Street, Lumberton, followed by a graveside service with military honors at Rest Lawn Memorial Park, Vidor, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider making a donation in Lance's name to either The Wounded Warrior Project or The National Suicide Prevention Hotline.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Shannon Lance Ivey Jr., please visit our floral store.