George William Cannon Jr.
October 16, 1914 - August 29, 2011

All who knew George Cannon, Jr. would agree that he made the world around him a better place through his kind heart, his generous spirit, and his selfless ways. Thinking of others ahead of himself was something that came naturally for George due in a large part to the example his father provided through the choices he made. George Jr. was a successful businessman who built his businesses on the basis of strong principles like integrity, teamwork, and good old fashioned hard work. A devoted family man, George delighted in his children and grandchildren, and he leaves them a timeless legacy that they will proudly carry on. The memories he made with his family, many friends, and numerous people in the communities he called home will surely withstand the ebb and flow of the tide.

Born along the picturesque shores of Lake Michigan in Muskegon, Michigan, George William Cannon, Jr. was born during a time in American history that was cloaked in struggles that plagued every city in our great land. Poverty was a real issue and with unsafe working conditions in countless industries, those who were working often endured great hardship and even injuries at an alarming rate. Children were not immune from these trials either as they were more commonly found in the workplace than they were in the classroom, and it wasnt until the Great Depression of the thirties that child labor laws were fully put into place.

It was on October 16, 1914, that George and Irene Cannon were pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy. As one of five children in his family, George Jr. was joined in his family by two brothers, Joseph and William, and two sisters, Margaret and Bernice. He attended St. Marys in Muskegon and St. Patricks in Miami Beach, Florida. Someone who highly valued education, George graduated from Georgetown Preparatory and Notre Dame University where he received degrees in engineering and mathematics. He also received an MBA from Harvard and furthered his engineering studies at MIT as well.

As WWII enveloped our nation after the vicious attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, George answered the call to serve the country he loved during this time of great need. He honorably served as a lieutenant in the United States Navy, commanding PT-108 in the Pacific.

Life was forever changed for George in 1953 when he traveled to California during the Thanksgiving break to attend a Notre Dame versus USC football game as it was there that he met the woman with whom he would share a lifetime of love. Her name was Mary Ellen Weitzel and as the story goes, it was love at first sight. Their love deepened over the next few months and on St. Patricks Day in 1954, the couple became husband and wife in Santa Barbara, California. Shortly thereafter the newlyweds settled in his hometown of Muskegon. Together they were blessed with six children including K.T., Christine, Constance, Carolyn, George III, and Timothy.

Throughout his life George established a flourishing career. His earliest years found him working as an apprentice at his fathers company, Campbell, Wyant, & Cannon, beginning when he was just a teenager. After returning from WWII, George and his brother, Bill, operated the Nugent Sand Company. In 1949 George founded Cannon-Muskegon Corporation, a specialty alloy company with a strong international reputation. Both of these firms are still in operation to this day. Through their work George and his colleagues developed a number of alloys that are essential for use in jet engines. Perhaps the secret of his success was that he always emphasized teamwork saying, No one works for me, they work with me. Not only were Georges business principles to be admired, but so was his overall perspective on how to live life as he was a firm believer in the lessons he was taught by his father. His father instilled within him a strong spiritual foundation telling him, Stay close to God, as well as, God first, family and friends second, and me third.

In addition to being an accomplished businessman, George will be remembered as an enthusiastic sportsman. He earned the title of Midwest Tennis Champion when he was a teenager and in 1930, he was captain of the tennis team at Notre Dame, he won the first E-boat competition on Muskegon Lake, sailing the Mischief II as part of the White Lake Yacht Club. Boating was an endeavor George loved to be a part of along his entire lifes journey. Both his golf skills and his downhill skiing skills were to be admired as well, and twice in his lifetime he hit the ever elusive hole in one - the first in 1936 and the second a mere 70 years later in 2006. The style with which he approached any sport has been called graceful and extended to everything he tried his hand at including the way he would cast a fly rod on the Pere Marquette River.

There are truly few whose character can be called extraordinary, but George was one such person. He enthusiastically supported his church and community as his greatest desire was to give back to the institutions that, like his father, he felt gave him a solid cornerstone on which to build his life both on a business and personal level. George wholeheartedly cared for others ahead of himself as one of his common questions was, What can I do for you today? Whether the request was great or small, he considered it both a privilege and an honor to do what he could to help. The churches and schools he attended throughout his life were always at the top of Georges list of recipients and as a result, he impacted the lives of so many in a significant way.

Character is defined as the mental and moral qualities that make an individual distinctive. When reflecting on the life of George Cannon, Jr., words such as generous, compassionate, and hardworking come to mind among many more in regards to his character. He was fun-loving, too, and taught those around him so much about what it means to truly live. An unending blessing in the lives of those too numerous to count, George will be deeply missed and warmly remembered.

George Cannon, Jr. died on August 29, 2011. Georges family includes his six children: K.T. Cannon-Eger (Bill Eger), of Keaau, Hawaii; Christine Cannon Bucher (John Bucher), of Hillsboro Beach, Florida; Constance Cannon of Denver, Colorado; Carolyn Cannon, Chicago, Illinois; George W. Cannon, III (Lori), of Muskegon, Michigan; Timothy J. Cannon (Amy), of Telluride, Colorado; eight grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. George was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen in 2010, his brothers, Joseph and William, his sisters, Margaret Cannon Fredericks and Bernice Cannon Nicholls. Services will be held on Monday, September 5, 2011, 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis deSales Catholic Church. Interment at St. Mary's Cemetery. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made to the Muskegon Catholic Education Foundation, 1851 Barclay Street, Muskegon, MI 49441, (231) 755-1000. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.

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