JR Cannon

On September 9, 2023, J R Cannon of Midlothian, Texas went to be with his Lord & Savior after a short bout with cancer. Born on August 7, 1943, in Orange, Texas to William Earnest Cannon and Velma Ione (née Vaughan), J R was the second youngest of their four children. Growing up in Italy, Texas, J R was class valedictorian and played football during his high school tenure. 

Soon after graduation, J R married Peggy Jane Putman of Frost, Texas on August 23, 1963, in Frost, Texas. However, soon after J R was called by his country to serve in Viet Nam. Sergeant J R Cannon proudly served his country in the Army 160th Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company from 1966-1968. Upon completion of his duty, J R returned home to Texas where he and Peggy would later have two sons: Michael Jay Cannon (of Midlothian, Texas) and Jason Bradley Cannon (of Houston, Texas).

Years later, J R would serve his country again, this time in a civilian capacity as a systems analyst for the Army Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) in Dallas, Texas. During his professional career, he traveled around the globe providing his expertise in the deployment and operation of large, main-frame computers.

An avid tinkerer and technology buff, J R introduced his family to home computers in 1980. He spent the next forty years trying to get them to run properly. Even in his later years, he still enjoyed tinkering with electronics and various gadgets.

J R was passionate about genealogy. The man left no stone unturned in his quest to document his family’s lineage. From spending hours on the phone talking to like-minded individuals to scouring the countryside visiting old gravestones and pouring over dusty documents, the man enjoyed learning about his past.

J R Cannon is survived by his loving wife, Peggy, two sons, Michael Jay Cannon (wife Starla) and Jason Bradley Cannon (wife Jennifer), four granddaughters, Haley Oxford (husband Tyler), Hanna Cannon, Hope Cannon and Hollie Cannon, all of the Midlothian area, and one great-granddaughter Ava Oxford. He is also survived by his younger brother Frank Cannon (wife Sandy) of Lake Kiowa, Texas.

J R was preceded in death by his parents William Earnest and Velma Ione Cannon, his brother William Earl Cannon and his sister Betty Jo Pittman.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Samaritan’s Purse (www.samaritanspurse.org).