Donald Lee Cannon

Donald Lee Cannon passed peacefully on Sunday, February 5, 2023 at CaroMont Regional Medical Center in Gastonia, NC. Born in Whitnel, NC on January 24, 1932, Mr. Cannon is the son of the late James and Lois Cannon. Mr. Cannon is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Betty Brittain Cannon, and two sisters, Faye Bryant and Helen Harris.

At the age of 12, Mr. Cannon began helping a close family friend who owned and operated an electrical contracting company. This experience created an interest that led Mr. Cannon to a 44-year career in the electrical industry – first as an electrician and then as an electrical estimator. He spent the majority of his career with Howard Brothers Electric in Charlotte. As an electrical estimator, Mr. Cannon participated on design-build projects in Charlotte, Research Triangle Park, Durham, and Raleigh. His most interesting work occurred in his early years as an electrician. He was proud to have worked on the construction of the VA Hospital in Salisbury, NC, the first Olin Mathieson Aluminum Mill in Hannibal, OH, a high-rise at 2 Broadway in Manhattan, NYC, and the lower level of the George Washington Bridge spanning the Hudson River and connecting Fort Lee, NJ with Manhattan, NYC.

Mr. Cannon would often say that the most important decision he ever made was on December 31, 1958 when he gave his life to Christ. He was a long-time member of Durham Memorial Baptist Church and served in many roles including deacon, usher, and member and chair of the committee that facilitated the construction of the current sanctuary. Mr. Cannon became a member of the West Gate Masonic Lodge #738 in 1972. He rose through the ranks and served as Grand Master in 1978. Recently, Mr. Cannon received a certificate marking his 50 years as a Mason.

Over the years, Mr. Cannon and his wife enjoyed traveling with close friends from their church. He enjoyed fishing, golf, cooking spaghetti sauce, making Christmas cookies for family and friends, and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved babies, the funnies in the newspaper, westerns, and Butterfingers. He was a man of deep convictions, unwavering faith, and integrity. In the words of Shakespeare, “He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again.”

Mr. Cannon is survived by his three daughters, Donna Wallace, Patty Hartsell (husband Jimmie), Brenda Dennis (husband Danny), five grandchildren, Jon Brumbaugh (wife Samantha), Christopher Price (wife Courtney), Allison Dennis Justice (husband Brent), Stephanie Price Lane (husband Mike), Patrick Dennis (wife Faith), nine great-grandchildren, Will, Zoey, Avery, Hank, Madelyn, Nicholas, Charlotte, Miller, and Cannon, his sister, Jean Mann, and many loved nieces and nephews.

All services for Mr. Cannon will be held on Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Forest Lawn West located at 4601 Freedom Drive, Charlotte, NC. Visitation is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. followed by a service at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital https://www.shrinerschildrens.org/en/locations/greenville or The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford https://mhc-oxford.org/. Condolences may be shared through www.forestlawnwest.com/.