Joe F. Cannon

Joe F. Cannon, native of Oklahoma but long-time Baton Rouge resident, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016. He was 88 years old. Cannon had three distinct careers - newspaper reporter, aircraft sales and business broker. His family moved to Baton Rouge in 1968 from Tulsa, Ok. He came here to become sales manager for Louisiana Aircraft Inc., which was fixed-base operator of Downtown Airport. In his retirement years he has been active in encouraging people to write their family's stories for future generations. He was born and raised in McAlester, Ok. Following active duty in the U.S. Navy as World War II was ending, he began his newspaper career in that town. He later joined the metropolitan Tulsa Daily World staff and became the newspaper's "aviation editor." Learning to fly, he gravitated to the aviation industry and with wife Eileen, started their own company known as Cannon Aviation Inc., operating a fixed-base facility for Tulsa's Riverside Airport. The Cannons, with two adopted daughters, moved to Baton Rouge where he continued in sales with Louisiana Aircraft Co., at Downtown Airport. He later joining the Mitsubishi Aircraft Co., selling turbo-prop and jet aircraft. In 1983, the general aviation industry collapsed because of restraints imposed by the extraordinary rise in insurance rates. Cannon joined a national mergers and acquisition group and subsequently formed his own business known as Louisiana Business Brokers. He continued that business until his death.Cannon's legacy includes a myriad of stories he has written through the years. Family and friends (and others) have enjoyed his reflections of earlier life. In recent history, he conducted a writer's workshop sponsored by Broadmoor Baptist Church, where his family have been members since 1968. The Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper has been very kind to publish many of his stories. Survivors include his wife, Eileen; a daughter, Tracey C. Hodges, of Baton Rouge. An older daughter, Teresa Jo, died several years ago. Her son, Jeremy Mosley, his wife Marliese and three great grandchildren who live in the Shreveport area. Joe F. Cannon, native of Oklahoma but long-time Baton Rouge resident, passed away Tuesday, April 26, 2016. He was 88 years old. Cannon had three distinct careers - newspaper reporter, aircraft sales and business broker. His family moved to Baton Rouge in 1968 from Tulsa, Ok. He came here to become sales manager for Louisiana Aircraft Inc., which was fixed-base operator of Downtown Airport. In his retirement years he has been active in encouraging people to write their family's stories for future generations. He was born and raised in McAlester, Ok. Following active duty in the U.S. Navy as World War II was ending, he began his newspaper career in that town. He later joined the metropolitan Tulsa Daily World staff and became the newspaper's "aviation editor." Learning to fly, he gravitated to the aviation industry and with wife Eileen, started their own company known as Cannon Aviation Inc., operating a fixed-base facility for Tulsa's Riverside Airport. The Cannons, with two adopted daughters, moved to Baton Rouge where he continued in sales with Louisiana Aircraft Co., at Downtown Airport. He later joining the Mitsubishi Aircraft Co., selling turbo-prop and jet aircraft. In 1983, the general aviation industry collapsed because of restraints imposed by the extraordinary rise in insurance rates. Cannon joined a national mergers and acquisition group and subsequently formed his own business known as Louisiana Business Brokers. He continued that business until his death.Cannon's legacy includes a myriad of stories he has written through the years. Family and friends (and others) have enjoyed his reflections of earlier life. In recent history, he conducted a writer's workshop sponsored by Broadmoor Baptist Church, where his family have been members since 1968. The Baton Rouge Advocate newspaper has been very kind to publish many of his stories. Survivors include his wife, Eileen; a daughter, Tracey C. Hodges, of Baton Rouge. An older daughter, Teresa Jo, died several years ago. Her son, Jeremy Mosley, his wife Marliese and three great grandchildren who live in the Shreveport area. A memorial service for Cannon will be held at Broadmoor Baptist Church, Friday, April 29, 2016 at 11:00. Visitation will be 10:00 to 11:00.