Service held for Charles Cannon

Charles S. Cannon, 83, of Allen, passed away Friday, September 2, 2022, surrounded by family at his home in Allen.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 7th, at 11:00 am in the Allen High School Auditorium, with Pastor Coy Howry officiating.

He was born on July 4, 1939, to Roy Leo and Willie Maebelle Davis Cannon at home in the Steedman community.

Charles was a 1957 graduate of Allen High School, was a member of the National Guard for 14 years and was a volunteer firefighter for the Allen Fire Department for 25 years.

He married Dionna Luna Cannon on June 27, 1959, and they had two children, Steven Cannon and Melinda Cannon Gray.

He worked as an auto mechanic for 47 years, first for Allen Motor Company before he and Dionna opened Cannon Auto, serving the Allen Community for 24 years. After retiring from Cannon Auto, Charles was employed by Pontotoc County District 1 until his second retirement in 2003.

Charles served his community, his family, and his country. He believed in working hard and preserving what you have. He was a rancher and stayed in the cattle business up until just a few months prior to his passing. He enjoyed being out on his farm, fishing, and spending time with his family, including his best friend, his nephew Jerry Cannon. He also enjoyed reading. His wife kept notebooks full of the books he had already read, so she wouldn’t accidentally rebuy them. He especially loved westerns and mystery novels.

No one who met Charles forgot his infectious laugh and ornery demeanor. You knew you were well liked if he was pestering you. He was a giver of nicknames that tended to stick, much to the person’s pleasure or dismay. He continued his antics to the end, even joking with his hospice nurses that he was either tied to a pole in the Walmart parking lot or needed fines paid for using his walker too fast.

Charles is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dionna; granddaughters Tara Priest and husband Cody, and Tasha Jackson; greatgrandchildren Natalia, Isaiah, and Jeremiah Jackson, and Gunner Priest; his sisterin- law Vicki Christian and husband Wayne; nephews Jerry Cannon (Guynell), Ross Wofford (Kim), Shawn Wofford (Shannon), Warren Morris, Danny Morris, and Cheyenne Christian (Dawn); nieces Brenda Dortch (Charles), Judy Cannon, and Chea Christian; and many other loving family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother Roy Leo Cannon Jr.; his sister LaFerne Morris (Sis); his two children Steven and Melinda; his sister-in-law Sandra Wofford; his nephew Robert Cannon; and his niece Linda Smith.