On Friday evening October 10, 2014 Welles Pinney Cannon passed away. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, hero and friend. He succumbed to complications arising from Multiple Myeloma. We were unaware of the cancer until about three weeks prior to his passing.
Welles was preceded in death by his daughter Sherry Ann Cannon, his first wife Janet Elaine Cannon and by his son-in-law Richard Biggs. Welles is survived by his wife Muriel Dawn Cannon, his children John Cannon, Doug (Beverly) Cannon, James Cannon, Jared (Mindy) Cannon, Cindy (Bryce) Whitaker; by Muriel's children Steve (Tammy) Kresser, Doug Kresser, (Loni Kresser), Cheryl Kresser Biggs and 24 grandchildren. Welles is also survived by his brothers and sisters, Victor Cannon, Phyllis Summers, Isabel Kuziel, Alice Rogers, Gilbert Cannon and Charles Cannon.
Welles was born in New Haven Connecticut to John and Phyllis Cannon and was the 6th of 7 children. Welles was raised in a family filled with love and learned the importance of family. Welles spent a lifetime teaching that love of family and the importance of caring for others with his words and actions.
Welles graduated from Brigham Young University in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management and Minors in Accounting and Architecture. While attending BYU he met and married his first sweetheart, Janet Elaine Seddon Mayor. Welles and Jan were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple on September 24, 1959. They were blessed with 6 children, who were born all over the world. Welles participated in the US Air Force Reserve Officer Training program while attending BYU and after graduation served six years active duty, with duty stations in South Carolina, Mildenhall England and California. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force, Welles went to work for The Pillsbury Corporation in the grain division and worked his way up to be a Region Vice President.
While working for Pillsbury, Welles was asked by the LDS Church to accept an assignment to manage and oversee the production and storage facilities for Welfare Services and the Bishop's Storehouse of the Church. After much prayer and several family counsels, Welles exercised his faith, left Ohio and moved his family to Bountiful, Utah to accept the assignment. They left behind Welles' lakeside dream home and property with farm land, forests, and rivers. In January 1999 Welles' wife Jan passed away in a tragic car accident.
Welles' life was then blessed by meeting his second sweetheart Muriel Dawn Willey Kresser. Welles and Muriel were married on June 10, 2000. They enjoyed traveling the world together, showing his sweetheart all the beauty the world has to offer. He loved taking her to see her daughter in California, always with a project ready to tackle and share with her daughter. This was just one other way that he showed his sweetheart and her children just how very important they all were to him. This also showed just how he was full of love and how much love he had to give. He showed it in every way and every day. Muriel knew nothing but tenderness and unconditional love from him. They never had a curse word or argument through out there 14 years of marriage. Their marriage contained nothing but Newlywed love for one another. He gave so much and asked nothing in return. The honorable man that he was will be forever missed and can never be duplicated.
Welles had many talents, but most of all he had the ability to make everyone feel special and important. All of his children thought they were his favorite. Welles loved music, played the violin as a boy and sang in several choirs. He enjoyed "doing projects" that ranged from home repairs and remodeling for his wife and children to multi-million dollar residential and commercial endeavors. Welles loved traveling with his sweetheart, going on family adventures, building things and looking for the next entrepreneurial adventure. He was blessed with the privilege of being able to do the things he loved his entire life.
Welles was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and served in many callings including Branch President and serving on the High Counsel.
We will miss him.We celebrate the wonderful and full life of Welles Cannon. His granddaughter Melissa summed things up very well at the hospital Friday afternoon when she said \"This is the happiest and saddest moment of my life.It is the happiest because I know Grandpa is returning to live with Heavenly Father and the saddest because I will miss him very much.\"
There will be a viewing held on Wednesday October 15, 2014 at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 E.South Temple, Salt Lake City, Utah from 6:00pm to 8:00pm.A viewing and funeral services will be held on Thursday October 16, at the LDS chapel at 1078 South McClelland Ave (1040 East), Salt Lake City, Utah. The viewing is from 9:30am to 10:45am. Funeral services will begin at 11:00am.Military Honors, Grave Dedication and Interment will be at the Kanosh Cemetery in Kanosh Utah at 5:00pm, Thursday October 16, 2014
