A long-time resident of the Alton/Godfrey area, Evelyn Cannon, 97, passed away on July 5, 2018 in Rossville, Georgia, near Chattanooga, Tennessee, where she had been living since 2010. Evelyn Kruse was born on September 10, 1920 to William C. and Minnie (Niebrugge) Kruse in Brighton, Illinois. She spent most of her childhood near Fosterburg, attending Heines School and graduating from Alton High School. She and James A. Cannon were married in 1944, and during WWII lived in Wilmington, Delaware, Nashville, Tennessee and Savannah, Georgia, before returning to the Alton area. In addition to being a homemaker, Evelyn worked as a secretary at First Methodist Church and 12th Street Presbyterian Church before working for the Alton Public Schools at Clara Barton and Godfrey Schools. She retired in the early 1980s. She was an active member of Main Street United Methodist Church and a member of P.E.O. Chapter JZ. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband James A. Cannon, son J. Michael Cannon, and sister Glenna June Edgar. She is survived by son John (Mary) Cannon, granddaughters Lyn Baker of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee and Alice Cannon of Ringgold, Georgia, great-grandson Elijah Carroll of Soddy Daisy, and several cousins who live locally.
Visitation will be at Main Street United Methodist Church in Alton starting at 9:30 AM on Saturday, July 21, 2018. A memorial service will be held starting at 10:30 AM, to be followed by a private burial. In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Main Street Methodist Church as a memorial. Gent Funeral Home in Alton is in charge of arrangements. Online guestbook and information may be found at www.gentfuneralhome.com
