Anne Davis Cannon

Anne (Thompson) Davis Cannon, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on December 20, 2024 peacefully in her cherished home with loved ones at her side. She was predeceased by her mother, Anne Lyons Thompson Davis and her father, Isaac Percival Davis (BSChE, University of Pennsylvania).

Anne was born on October 6th of 1934 in Chester, PA. In 1946, following her recovery from polio, Anne's family moved from Swarthmore to Kennett. She graduated from Kennett High School in 1953 and continued her education at the University of Delaware, where she was one of only two women to earn a BS in Chemical Engineering in 1957. During her time at UD, she worked at the Sunoco Laboratory in Marcus Hook and was a member of Tau Beta Pi, a prestigious engineering honor society.

It was at the University of Delaware that Anne met and eventually married her lifelong partner, Ed. Their son, Gary, was born in 1957 at the Aberdeen, MD Army base, where Ed was stationed. Sally followed in 1958, and the family later moved to Levittown, NJ (now Willingboro), where Anne gave birth to Anne (1960), Beth (1965), and Nora (1968).

Anne was an active member of her community, participating in the AAUW and PTA, and she also taught math at Burlington High School. Throughout these years, family weekends were spent visiting Ed’s parents in Milford and Anne’s parents in Kennett. Eventually, Anne and Ed made the decision to move in with Anne’s parents. This allowed their love for horses and animals to flourish, with Windtryst Farm Warmbloods becoming a beloved part of their lives. The family also became deeply involved in the local 4-H club, and summer weekends were filled with horse shows.

In 1984, Ed founded an Engineering and Construction Supervision Company, where Anne served as owner and administrator. The company managed the design and construction of the Rohm and Haas water treatment facility, as well as numerous process improvements at the Bristol and Croyden sites. 

Anne was a devoted member of Concord Liberty Presbyterian Church where she served as both an Elder and Deacon. Anne served on the township planning commission for several years. Anne also volunteered with Encore and Chester County Hospital, and she raised dachshunds, spreading love and joy to many. A lover of the outdoors, Anne ensured that the 30-acre property she and Ed cherished would remain preserved for future generations by placing it in conservation with the Brandywine Conservancy.

The family home—affectionately known as "the farm"—was open to all, and the family fondly remembers many holidays hosted by Anne. There were numerous family members and friends welcomed to stay over the years. This past summer marked 78 years of living on Windtryst farm. 

Anne is survived by her husband of 68 years, Ed; her son, Gary (and his wife, Laurie) and their children, Kristin (Steve) Michalski, Courtney Cannon, Meghan (Justin) Lamborn, Molly (Matt) McGraw; her daughter, Sally (and her husband, Fran McGraw) and their children, Scott (Lori) McGraw, Sean (Kim) McGraw, Megan (Dave) Donegan, Ryan (Amanda) McGraw, Mikaela McGraw; her daughter, Beth; her daughter and caregiver, Anne Cannon and Anne's daughter, Kerri Cannon; and her daughter, Nora Cannon (and her partner, Larry Rubin) along with their daughter, Julia. She is also survived by thirteen great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Brandywine Conservancy, 1 Hoffman's Mill Road, PO Box 141, Chadds Ford, PA 19317.

A Memorial Service will be held on January 4, 2025 at Concord Liberty Presbyterian Church, 256 Bethel Rd, Glen Mills, PA at 11:00 AM, with a visitation prior, beginning at 10:00 AM.