Edwin Q. Cannon Jr.

Edwin Q Cannon Jr. 1918 ~ 2005 Like his grandfather Apostle George Q. Cannon, Edwin Q. Cannon, Jr. was a pioneer for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1978 he was called by the First Presidency of the Church, together with his wife and one other couple, Rendell and Rachel Mabey, to establish the first official branches of the Church among the blacks in Africa. In less than a year, trained native leaders in Ghana and Nigeria were presiding over 27 LDS branches made up of the hundreds of new members baptized by Brothers Cannon and Mabey. "Ted" Cannon, as he was known to friends and relatives, was born May 6, 1918, to Edwin Q. and Luella Wareing Cannon. Because of the flu epidemic then raging, he was born at home, 231 D St in Salt Lake City, delivered by his father's brother Dr. William T. Cannon. He grew up on "the Avenues," attending Lowell, Bryant Junior High, and East High schools. Ted's studies at the University of Utah were interrupted in 1937 by a mission call to Hitler's Germany. He was president of the East Berlin Branch in 1939 when the missionaries were evacuated as World War II began. He finished his mission in eastern Canada and returned home in 1940. He re-enrolled at the "U," rejoined the University polo team, and became president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He and Janath Russell were married in the Salt Lake Temple on August 13, 1941, exactly two years from the date they had first met in Berlin. He graduated in 1942 -"in absentia"- as he was already at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, from which he received his MBA in 1943, graduating magna cum laude at the top of his class. During the war he was an officer in the U.S. Army, stationed at the Quartermaster Office of Price Adjustment in San Francisco. He returned to Salt Lake City and the family business, the Salt Lake Stamp Co., in spite of tempting job offers elsewhere, and with his brother, William W., managed the company successfully for over 30 years. The brothers shouldered each other's responsibilities to make mission calls possible, and enjoyed sharing a ranch in Kamas Valley. A life of service in the Church included these positions: counselor to Bishop Orval Fox in the 20th Ward 1950-'59; Ensign Stake High Council (1959-'64; bishop of the Ensign 4th Ward 1964-'71; president of the Switzerland Mission, 1971-'74; counselor and later executive secretary in the International Mission 1974-'87; sealer in the Salt Lake Temple; director of the Nauvoo Visitors Center 1987-'89; interim president of the Hamburg Germany Mission for three months in 1989, so Pres. Walter Paul could re-open the East German Mission; president of the Frankfurt Temple 1989-'91. Civic service included: member of the Utah State House of Representatives 1956, 1958, 1960; president of Marking Device Association 1971; member of Utah Executives Association, Rotary International, and Utah Manufacturers Association. Ted was a respected businessman, a loyal husband, a quiet and caring father, a faithful friend, and a delightful companion. His mortal life ended on April 6, 2005. Among those who will miss him until they meet again are: His wife, Janath Russell Cannon, children: Ann (Richard) LeVitre, Ned (Kay) Cannon, Melissa (Tim) Evans, Russell (Shelley) Cannon, Tenney (Anita) Cannon, and Myra (Darin) Kerr; 26 grandchildren and 30 great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held Sat. April 9, 2005, 12:00 noon at the Salt Lake Ensign Stake Center, 2nd Ave. & A Street. Friends may call Fri. evening from 6-8 p.m. at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple and from 10:30-11:45 prior to services. Interment: Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund, are suggested.