Obituary: Janath Russell Cannon

Janath Russell Cannon 1918 ~ 2007 Janath Russell Cannon died July 5, 2007, in Bountiful, Utah, gracious to the end. Like her great-grandfather, Charles C. Rich, Janath was a pioneer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before her death, she was the last survivor of the four original representatives of the Church sent to take the fullness of the gospel to Nigeria and Ghana in 1978 - "The greatest adventure of our lives!" Born October 28, 1918 in Ogden, Utah to Dr. George Oscar and Oertel Rich Russell, Janath grew up in Columbus, Ohio where her father taught at Ohio State University. She attended kindergarten in Paris, France while her father was on sabbatical there. She graduated with honors from Wellesley College in 1939. As a young woman, Janath began a mission in Paris but was transferred to the Toronto Canada Mission with the advent of World War II in the fall of 1939. Her future husband, Edwin Q. "Ted" Cannon, Jr. was serving a mission in Berlin and was also transferred to Toronto at the outbreak of the war. After becoming acquainted during their missionary service, they were married August 13, 1941 in the Salt Lake Temple and continued their missionary service together, presiding over the Switzerland/International Mission, the Nauvoo Visitor's Center, the Germany Hamburg Mission, and the Frankfurt Temple, in addition to West Africa. Janath's church service includes 18 years singing with the Tabernacle Choir, where she also edited the choir paper, "Keeping Tab", and eight years on the Relief Society General Board and as First Counselor to President Barbara B. Smith. She also served in Ward Relief Society presidencies and on two stake boards. She served in the mid 1960's on the Adult Correlation Committee and from 1980-1985 on the Executive Board of the Thrasher Research Fund, chaired by Bishop Victor L. Brown. The love of writing and language served Janath well as an author, editor, and co-author of books such as "Edward Hunter, Faithful Steward", "The Cannon Family Treasury", "Nauvoo Panorama", "Women of Covenant: The Story of Relief Society", and "Together: A Love Story". Janath was preceded in death by her husband, Edwin Quayle Cannon Jr., her sister Carol Russell (Lynn) Crookston, her brother Robert Rich (Ellen) Russell, and grandchildren Lindsay Burgess-Kerr and Aaron Evans. She is survived by her six children: Ann (Richard) LeVitre, Ned (Kay) Cannon, Melissa (Tim) Evans, Russell Rich (Shelley) Cannon, Tenney (Anita) Cannon, and Myra Oertel (Darin) Kerr; 24 grandchildren and 40 great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the staff at Legacy House of Bountiful for their kindness and care during the last years of her life and Alpine Hospice for their care during her last week. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 16, 2007 at 12 Noon in the Ensign Stake Center, 135 "A" Street. A family and friends "visitation" will be held at the Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. So. Temple on Sunday, July 15th from 6:00-8:00 p.m. and Monday at the Church from 10:00-11:30 a.m. Interment, Salt Lake City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers family suggests donations to the Perpetual Education Fund, 15 East South Temple, Second Floor East, SLC, Ut 84150.