James Thomas Cannon, 89, of Nederland, passed away Thursday, August 6, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

Cannon. Over the last couple of years as health issues capped by a stroke robbed Daddy of his vitality-he faded away. Here is his life from his children’s point of view. James Cannon was born in Shelbyville, Texas in April of 1931. He worked on the family farm and the rural sawmills of Shelby County during his youth. Following high school graduation, he moved to Port Arthur, Texas, where he went to work at Gulf Oil. He worked for Gulf Oil until his retirement except for his military service in the US Army during the Korean War. He worked his way up from lab assistant to Unit Supervisor. Daddy never lost his green thumb or his desire to grow everything from day lilies to fruit trees. He planted gardens of vegetables and melons, among other things until his health faded. Dad collected history in the form of arrowheads and other Native American artifacts throughout South East Texas. Dad would study the arrowheads and tools teaching himself and demonstrating to others how to chip out arrowheads. His love of history led him to tour battlefields, caves, ghost towns, and cemeteries. He was an avid reader of many things from westerns to science fiction-often surprising us with his choices of books. He was a rock hound collecting rocks from all of his travels .Daddy enjoyed cooking and canning but is best known as a great pie baker. His pies often created bidding wars at church bake sales. Daddy's blended family with his wife Sarah "Sallie" Morris Cannon consisted of 8 children, 15 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at the First Baptist Church of Shelbyville, TX on October 13, 2020 at 2:00 P.M. with internment to follow at the Cannon Family Cemetery.