PHYLLIS JEAN CANNON

1927-2017

Phyllis J. (Paul) Cannon of Sugar Land passed away on November 11, 2017 following a fall. Her parents, brother, and sisters have preceded her in death. Phyllis grew up in the small Midwestern Indiana town of Morocco and spent her early years there. After graduation from high school, she moved to Chicago and worked at Hearst Advertising in “the Loop” in downtown Chicago as an executive assistant. She graduated from Bryant and Stratton Business College in Chicago and attended Northwestern University. Later she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Houston graduating Magna Cum Laude.

When she lived in Chicago, she was a member of The United Church of Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago. There she met Bryan (B. Jay), a seminary student, who was working with the youth of the church. They married three days after his graduation from McCormick Theological Seminary. B. Jay held several pastorates and they lived in Waterman, Illinois; Hillside, Illinois; Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Washington, Pennsylvania; and Clear Lake City, Texas. After B. Jay’s retirement, they moved to Sugar Land.

While raising four children, as the wife of a busy pastor, she taught church school, served in the women’s association in various capacities, was ordained an Elder in the Presbyterian Church, USA, and carried the social life of the Manse. After the children were older, she worked for United Cerebral Palsy and Exxon Chemical Company from which she retired with fifteen years of service.

Phyllis became a Master Gardner, was a member and Regent of the Fort Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, a member of the Sugar Land Garden Club, a volunteer with Child Advocates of Fort Bend County, and a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, the Esther Circle and the Fellowship Class. She was an excellent cook, seamstress and homemaker, but she especially enjoyed grand-mothering. Her children and grandchildren were very important to her and she was most happy when she was surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Holidays were very special when her family usually gathered at her home.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, B. Jay. She is also survived by her son Jeffrey Cannon and wife Paige of Austin, Texas; daughter Cathy Greenbaum of Clearwater, Florida; daughter Cynthia Albert and husband Steve of Houston, and son Craig Cannon of San Antonio, Texas. She is also survived by seven grandchildren: Michael and Sylvia Cannon, Taylor Greenbaum, Virginia and Warren Albert, Alexander and Elizabeth Cannon. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.