He was born August 3, 1951, in Jeffersonville, Indiana, the eldest son of the late Charles Columbus Gannon and Mildred Ann Coots Gannon. On December 29, 1972, he married the love of his life, Mary Ann Allen.
Charles served our country in the U.S. Navy from 1978 until 1988, during which time he was stationed at Great Lakes, Mare Island, Vallejo, Alameda, Augusta, Oahu, and also served throughout the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific on the USS Coral Sea CV-43. His innate nature for fastidiousness and eye for detail served him well throughout his Naval career in avionics navigational equipment and the Ship Navigation and Aircraft Inertial Alignment System (SNAIAS). While stationed in Hawaii, Charles relaunched a bunker for the Military Auxiliary Radio System (MARS) unit that had not been in working order since World War II. Following his service, Charles continued his career through contract work for the military while employed with Beech Aerospace, Raytheon, L-3 Communications, and Vertex Aerospace. He also was a member of the Central Mississippi Amateur Radio Association (CMSARA).
Charles was a longtime member of Crossgates Baptist Church in Brandon. In his free time he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling to the mountains. He had a true appreciation for the beauty of God’s creation, and he loved spending time in the woods communing with nature and our Heavenly Father. Charles also enjoyed the classics, from classic cars to classical music. He was an avid reader, always with a book in hand or hip pocket. Charles had an impish sense of humor, telling stories and jokes with that familiar grin and a twinkle in his eye. Friends and loved ones knew him to be strong and kind, a gentle giant, always willing to lend a helping hand.
He is survived by his beloved wife of almost 49 years, Mary Ann Gannon; children, Sarah Joy Gannon, Dorothy Gannon Hood (Dave, Justin, Hannah), Mike Gannon (Angie, Kennedy), and Anthony Gannon (Kim, Parker); brother, Wesley Gannon (Margaret, Angela, Eric); and sister, Dorothy Maye Gannon (Jeanette); Judi Allen (Jacob, Julie), Jayne Easterling (Wayne, Tiffenie, Michael), and Shelia Breaker (Christopher, Lauren).
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his brother, Roger Gannon.
Visitation will be held from 10:00am until 11:00am, Thursday, November 18, 2021, at The Venue at Crossgates Baptist Church. Celebration of Remembrance Services will follow at 11:00am. His family will honor Charles’ wish to retire his earthly remains to the open sea which he loved so well. Following memorial services, the U.S. Navy will bury his ashes at sea over the Mariana Trench.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to OneHope Missions Ministries, Crossgates Baptist Church, 8 Crosswoods Rd., Brandon, MS 39042; crossgates.org/give.
