Thomas George Cannon

CANNON - Thomas George, went to be with the Lord on September 4, 2008, at his home in Sapulpa, OK after a long battle with cancer. He was born December 9, 1942, to John Bess Cannon and Lillie Pearl Crawford Cannon in Wagoner, OK. After graduating from Wagoner High School in 1961, he attended Northeastern A&M in Miami and OSU in Stillwater, OK receiving a Bachelors Degree in Animal Science in January of 1966. He spent the next 4 years serving in the U.S. Air Force, stationed at Fairchild AFB near Spokane, WA and served 6 months in Guam as a Fuel Specialist. He began his Vocational Agricultural Teach- ing career at Cleveland, OK in 1973 where he taught for 6 years. He then moved to Sapulpa, OK where he taught until he retired in July 1995. During this time Mr. Cannon returned to OSU in Stillwater and received a Masters Degree in Agricultural Education in March of 1989. Mr. Cannon was preceded in death by: both his mother and father; and sister, Nancy Ruth Cannon; nephew, Scott Cannon and brother-in-law, Gilbert Smith. He is survived by: his loving wife, LaVelda, of the home; 2 daughters, Kimberly Dawn Parker and husband Billy, and Cindy Tyler and husband Robert both of Sapulpa. His son, Garrison "Matt" Cannon is currently serving in the U.S. Army and stationed at Camp Eterly, Italy; brothers, Johnny Cannon and wife Beverly of Wagoner, OK, Robert Cannon and wife Kimberly of Bixby, OK; sisters, Cherrie Smith of Tulsa, OK and Jonna Castle of Denver, CO; mother-in-law Velda Kaiser of Sapulpa; and long time friends Jim and Brenda Biles of Sapulpa. He was known as "Papa" to Sydney Morgan Monks, Sara Grace Tyler, Holly Paige Tyler and Colin Blake Tyler. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, hundreds of Ag children, and his church family, and friends. Thomas was a kind gentle man, who loved the Lord and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Sapulpa. He dedicated his life to Jesus at First Baptist Church in Wagoner. He never missed an opportunity to tell his family he loved them. He left multitudes of lives touched with happy memories. He was an example to all he met and touched countless lives of his students. This became apparent in the tremendous outpouring of love, respect, and prayers during his final months. His final wishes of being at home surrounded by family was fulfilled when he stepped over into the arms of Jesus. Service for Mr. Cannon will be held 10 a.m., Monday September 8, 2008, at the First Baptist Church in Sapulpa. Interment will follow in Elmwood Cemetery in Wagoner under the direction of Smith Funeral Home. A family visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home Chapel. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Thomas G. Cannon scholarship fund c/o Kathy Gann, 3 South Mission, Sapulpa, OK 74066. Thomas George Cannon