This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Canon, Viverette Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/8564 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 7 Apr 2005 Canon MILLEDGEVILLE, GA - Capt. Percy W. Canon, (U.S. Army retired), 79, passed away Sunday, March 27, 2005. He was a native of and resided in Gause, but had made his home in Milledgeville for many years. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 30, 2005 at 10 a.m. at The Assembly of God Church in Milledgeville, GA. Internment followed at the Baldwin Memorial Gardens. Capt. Canon came to Milledegville in 1961 as an instructor of Military Science at Georgia Military College. While teaching there he was revered and loved by his students, known to all as “Sarge” and thought of as a surrogate dad by many boarding and local students. In addition to teaching, he was the rifle team coach. He was a highly decorated veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict. After retiring from the U.S. Army, he began working at Central State Hospital, continued his education, earning a B.S. degree in Criminal Justice at Georgia College and State University in 1980, and later retired from the Binion Building. Capt. Canon was remembered later in his life as “the man who owned the Christmas House” or “Santa” in Milledgeville, GA. The house he lived in was a winter wonderland of motion characters and had thousands of Christmas lights. At Christmastime, children of all ages came from hundreds of miles to see his creations and get free candy from Santa as they rode by his house. The house was featured on the front page of The Union-Recorder, Southern Home Journal and TV Stations from Nacon to Atlanta. Capt. Canon had lived his last 10 years dividing his time between his childhood home in Gause where he and his wife raised registered Brahman cattle, and in Milledgeville where they still retain a home. Capt. Canon, being a devout man, and a son of a minister, faithfully attended The Assembly of Assembly of God Church in Caldwell and The Assembly of God Church in Milledgeville. He was respected and loved by all who knew him. His first wife Nancy Carolyn Viverette Canon, a son Leonard Joseph Canon and his parents Leonard Oran and Jewell Canon, preceded him in death. His survivors include his wife, Deane L. Canon; a son, Percy W. Canon Jr and wife Sarah of Milledgeville; a daughter, Nancy Diana Martindale and husband Bart of Canton, GA; two sisters, Wanda Dingell of Pearland and Patricia Wollard of Tyler; a brother, Eugene Canon of Magnolia; a special nephew, Ronald Canon of Pearland; two stepsons, Christopher Chapman of McDonough, GA and Kenneth Chapman of New Fairfield, Connecticut. He was the proud grandfather of Tracy Canon, James Scott Canon, Carolyn E. Canon, Percy W. Canon III, James Martindale, Kasandra Martindale (deceased), Rachel Martindale, Bart Martindale IV, Blake Chapman, Ryan Chapman, Grace Chapman, Melissa Coleman and Jackie Gossett. Sixteen great grandchildren survive.