Dorothy (Dot) Sherman

Born 1918 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the daughter of Earl and Cora Zentz, Dorothy had three brothers, Wayne, Pete, and Earl Jr., all of whom have passed. Dot was the last living member of her immediate family. The family was very close and believed in hard work, always supporting and loving one another...although, as with any family, had their disputes. Dorothy was 96 and is survived by her three sons, Gary Cannon, 75, who lives in Dalton, GA; Ronald Cannon, 74, who lives in a nursing home in South Bend, IN, and Dennis Cannon, 66, who lives in Madison, AL. Dorothy is also survived by four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren who she adored and who adored her.

Dorothy grew up on a farm and worked in the fields with her family, growing food on which the family lived. It was a hard life, but prepared her for appreciating the value and rewards of hard work.

With only a high school education, her natural intelligence went way beyond her schooling, learning about life from her hard-working parents and brothers. It was if she had a 7th sense! But then most mothers seem to have a 7th sense.

As a teenager, Dorothy was working in a Walgreens in Elkhart, IN behind the soda fountain counter when a very handsome young man came in and was immediately smitten with her. Dorothy relays the story that she was dating someone else at the time, but this handsome young man named Harold Cannon wouldn’t give up. He finally won her over, and they were married. She said that after two boys, she was hoping for a girl when Dennis was born, but he turned out to be a pretty good third son. Harold, a successful businessman was a wonderful, caring provider until passing in 1977 at the young age of 63. Dorothy was very creative, and worked with ceramics, many of which were highly and beautifully detailed. Dorothy was a dedicated and loving wife and mother...and an amazing cook. She and Harold would make the trek from Elkhart to Cadillac, Michigan each year in the fall to hunt mushrooms, and return with baskets of steak-size mushrooms that she would fry in butter and flour. Amazing! Friends and family always looked forward to helping devour those tasty mushroom steaks. Dorothy always made sure the kids were at their sports, music, and school events, and became a voice of reason and support when the kids started dating...although she didn’t always ‘approve’ of some of the girls. The family enjoyed summers at a lake cottage in Indiana, where Dot kept things...and the kids… in line while Harold was at work. In the evenings, the family would enjoy cookouts, boating, playing games, and just enjoying the summers together. The cottage was eventually sold when the kids went off to college and ventured out on their own.

Gary entered the Navy, Ronny went into the Army, and Dennis attended Ball State University and graduated from the University of Hawaii. Dorothy and Harold were then empty nesters who liked to travel. Harold had started a very successful mobile home business in Elkhart, but when the ‘70s energy crisis hit the country, the business was hard hit and eventually was closed. At that time, Dennis had moved to Virginia Beach and was able to connect his father with a CPA job at the Cavalier Hotel. After taking care of things in Indiana, Dorothy moved to VA Beach where they lived for several years. Harold passed in 1977 while visiting family in Indiana. Dennis had moved to Ft. Lauderdale and moved Dorothy with him shortly after Harold’s passing. Dennis eventually moved to Huntsville and Dorothy remained in Ft. Lauderdale for 18 years, working at S&H Greenstamps, and eventually married Pete Sherman, who passed in 1984. Dot loved Ft. Lauderdale and became involved in many activities she loved, including keeping her yard and flowers beautifully maintained, painting her home inside and out at the age of 82, cutting down trees with a chainsaw, going on offshore gambling junkets with her friends, trips to the Florida Keys, involved with church groups,...she was always busy, strong as an ox and had many close friends. She even installed an underground irrigation system by herself in her front yard! She also hosted international students and became very close to many. Everyone loved Dot. When she reached her mid-’80s, Dennis realized his mother was approaching a point where she could no longer continue pushing herself living alone, and he and brother Gary eventually moved Dorothy to Madison in 2003 when Dennis became her caregiver for nearly 12 years until her recent passing. Dorothy spent the last five months of her life at Madison Manor Nursing Home where she was well cared for, became an integral part of the Madison Manor community and was widely loved.

Dorothy loved to sew, cook, bake, and make desserts. She was a great pie-maker. Dot had many strong points, but her vibrant personality, caring for others and giving nature, and dedication to family and friends was unparalleled. She would literally give you the shirt off her back. She loved hosting the kids’ high school classmates for weekend and after-school get-togethers and always wanted the boys’ friends to feel at home. Dorothy created a great home environment and all the kids would call her Donna Reid. She was a loving, dedicated wife and mother. She was very maternal, loved babies, curious, had a quick wit, loved to laugh, loved watching the Atlanta Braves and Duke basketball games, doing word search puzzles, reading, picture puzzles, and absolutely loved her cat, Dublin. The day of her passing, Dublin, who had never slept on her bed, began sleeping on a sweater of Dot’s that had been laid out on the bed. Animals possess a special sense with those they’re connected to…and he knows. He misses her dearly, as do all those who have had the pleasure to know her. Dot, we all miss you so much, and you’ll always be in our hearts. Rest in peace.