William Harrold Canon

Bill was born in Corpus Christi, Texas on July 17, 1951. He was the fifth out of six children born to Dr. Maurice and Elizabeth Canon. Bill and his siblings Joan, Robert, Peggy, Michael and John grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Bill completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1973. He took time after college to travel and enjoy his mid-20's. In 1976, Bill started a small landscape construction company in Tullahoma, Tennessee. In a chance encounter at a popular Tullahoma gathering place, Bill met Patricia Lynn Alexander, whom he married on November 5, 1977 at his parents' home in Chattanooga.

Bill left Tullahoma with his small family in 1982 to pursue a Masters of Landscape Architecture degree at Louisiana State Universtity in Baton Rouge. He graduated at the top of his class with top honors and a 4.0 grade point average.

In 1985, Bill moved his growing family to Shirley, Arkansas to take a position with Fairfield Communities. In 1987, Bill took an estimating position with Reinhold Landscape, Inc. and so began his career in Michigan. He quickly advanced to Vice President of Construction, a position he held for six years.

In March of 1993, Bill started what would become one of the largest, most respected landscape construction companies in the Midwest. The WH Canon Company has been named one of the top 100 landscape construction companies in the country by a respected trade magazine and has created some of the most recognized, high profile landscapes in Michigan. Bill was honored to have worked directly with the famed Maya Line on the Rosa Parks Circle in Grand Rapids and the Wave Field at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

A true testament to Bill's character is found within his company. Most of the employees working for WH Canon today came on board with Bill in 1993. Most of his company's work is with prior clients. he valued and cared deeply for his employees and colleagues and he was know and respected for his high ethical standards, honesty and integrity.

The success of WH Canon afforded Bill the opportunity to enjoy activites he loved: obtaining his pilot's license, salmon fishing on Lake Michigan, spending time at his cottage in Manastee, MI and traveling the Midwest on his Harley motorcycle.

William is preceded in death by his parents, Maurice and Elizabeth Canon. He is survived by his wife Patricia; his five children Andrea Canon Dawson (Patrick), Danielle Hendrickson, Chole Canon, Casey Canon and Shelby Canon; three grandchildren Madeline, Jack and Demetri; and his five siblings Joan Catignani, Robert Canon, Peggy Burkhalter, Michael Canon and John Canon.

Visitation services will be held Tuesday November 15, 2011 from 5 pm until 9 pm at the Harry J. Will Funeral Home, 37000 W. Six Mile in Livonia, Michigan 48152. The funeral home is located on the north side of Six Mile, east of I-275 and Newburgh Road.

The Funeral Mass for Bill will be at 10 am on Wednesday November 16, 2011 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, located at 133 Orchard Drive in Northville, Michigan 48167.

Please send donation in memory of Bill Canon to the Melanoma Research Foundation, 1411 K. Street, N.W. Suite 500, Washington D.C. 20005 or visit:

www.melanoma.org .