Jack Paige Cannon of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away peacefully, March 12, 2025, at the age of 94. He had been a resident of the Arkansas Veteran’s Home in Fayetteville since August 1, 2019. He was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on April 1, 1930, the son of Artie (Sixkiller) Cannon and Al Cannon. His mother passed away when he was only two weeks old. He was then raised by his foster parents, an aunt and uncle, Ruth and Lincoln (Link) Sixkiller. He grew up in Watts, Oklahoma.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his foster parents, two brothers, Gene Cannon and AJ Cannon, and his wife Mary. He is survived by one sister, Judy Howell, of Nowata, Oklahoma; nieces, Kathy (Gary) Rankin and Karen Sargent of Prairie Grove, Jane (Leon) Kisner of Siloam Springs, Wanda Cox, Texas, and Christine and Pam of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two nephews, Chester Swonger, Missouri, and Chris Howell (April), of Arlington, Txas; and several great-nieces and nephews, cousins, and friends.
After high school, Jack served in the U.S. Army from 1948 to 1952. He spent 19 months in Okinawa, Japan during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from Ft. Hood, Texas as a Staff Sergeant in August 1952. After his tour of duty, Jack moved to Tulsa where he spent 20 years with Waukesha Motor Company, from about 1952 to 1972. He also worked for more than 12 years at Sears in Tulsa, before retiring in 1984.
He married Mary B. Swonger on December 1, 1961, and they resided in Tulsa until moving to Northwest Arkansas in 1991 where they lived in a neighborhood west of Fayetteville. Jack worked at the University of Arkansas for several years and then in April 2009, they moved to Nantucket Apartments in south Fayetteville. They were active in the Fayetteville Assembly of God Church for several years.
Jack loved anything to do with trains and puzzles. When his health began to fail, he entered the Arkansas Veteran’s Home where he passed the time by working on jigsaw puzzles, playing dominoes, and talking with the other residents, nurses and CNAs. If he found out someone was from the Watts or Westville area, he would ask them all kinds of questions. Being part Cherokee, he asked them if they could speak Cherokee. One or two of them did!
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, March 22, 2025 at Beard’s Chapel. Interment will follow in Mineral Springs Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until service-time at the funeral home on Saturday.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd, Springdale, AR. 72762 or The Gideons International: The Gideons International Processing Ctr, PO box 97251, Washington, DC 20090-7251.
Our Uncle Jack was a “people” person. He never met a stranger. He loved visiting with everyone he met and sharing stories with them. He and Aunt Mary loved the Lord and their church family meant so much to them. He had an interesting life and I loved to hear his stories he would tell us. He will be missed.
Jack and I worked at University Of Arkansas. Jack was a very good friend, very patient. Jack taught me how to operate our stand up forklift. Always enjoyed Mary and Jack while they were at Nantucket. Blessings to Jack’s family. I know Jack and Mary are in heaven. I am looking forward to seeing them again. If you want to see Jack again, you must talk to JESUS
Jack and Mary Cannon were very active and dedicated to our church family at Fayetteville First Assembly for so many years. I’ll always remember his stories, sweet spirit, smile and laugh that lit up his face. He truly loved the Lord. What a legacy he left behind. I’m rejoicing with you at his home going. He is missed!! Rest in peace dear brother!!
Betty Sharp
I was a Friend from Watts. Jack visited the Historic Howard Hotel which I kept open with displays of its glory days when Watts was the Division Point on the K.C.S. Railroad. Jack enjoyed all the old photos of the roundhouse, coalchute, depot and the many family photos included one of his foster Dad Link Sixkiller getting a haircut from Lawyer Swake. That moved him to share the story of his childhood and we became close friends. His was a life well lived and his memory is a credit to his old hometown of Watts.
My maternal grandfather was a Cannon from Fayetteville with ties in Oklahoma.
I wonder if I am connected to him.
Jack was my Uncle. I have a lot of memeories of Uncle Jack and Aunt Mary growing up. They were always so kind and I enjoyed visiting with them. I remember his love of the railroad. He said if he had it to do over he would work for the railroad. Jack had a good sense of humor and liked to tell me about the old days in Watts, Ok. He will be missed.