H. J. Cannon, Jr. 89, of Fairfield, passed away Monday, May 13, 2019 in Mexia.
Funeral services were held 10:00 a.m. Thursday, May 16, 2019 at Round Prairie Baptist Church with Bro. Ed Ridge and Pastor Chris George officiating. Interment followed at Stewards Mill Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Mark Chavers, Gene Chavers, Doyle Cannon, Ray Lancaster, Travis Cherry and Joey Cherry. Honorary bearers were Andy Tallas, Jacob Glasscock, Brett Dillon and Dennis Hanna, Ralph Edwards, Bobby Cherry, Dwight Cherry and Phillip Ivy.
H. J. was born November 22, 1929 at home in Fairfield to parents Hillman Thomas and Era Lee York Cannon.
He attended Fairfield schools. While in high school, he played football and helped the team win the 1946 Regional Championship, which was the farthest teams went at that time.
H. J. was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Anchorage, Alaska during the Korean Conflict. He was discharged honorably in 1953.
On May 21, 1955 he married the love of his life, Martha Nell Cherry; in the home of R. L. Ryburn in Freestone County.
He retired from the Texas Highway Department in 1987 after 38 years of service.
He trained Border Collies for more than forty years and won numerous awards including 1967 State Championship; 1978 national Open Champion; 1979 State Champion and the 1980 Texas State Fair Champion. In 2000 he was inducted as the first member of the Lone Star Cattle Dog Futurity Hall of Fame.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha Nell Cherry Cannon; his siblings, Millard H. Cannon; Zuma Lee Cannon Henry; Juanita Cannon Chavers and Thomas Doyle Cannon.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Berta Rae Vestal Cannon; two sons, H. J. Cannon, III and wife Reecie; Thomas Cannon and wife Helen; three grandchildren, Natalia Cannon Tallas and husband Andy; Hillary Cannon Glasscock and husband Jacob; Genea Cannon; two great-grandchildren, Olivia Jock and Sophie Tallas; one sister, Marie Cannon Richardson; sister-in-law Genelle James Cannon; numerous nieces and nephews.
To view an online obituary, send a personalized sympathy card, or leave the family a personal tribute, please visit www.cappschapel.com.
