Blaine Kenneth Cannon died peacefully surrounded by loving family at the home of his son, Gary, on the morning of Friday, November 18, 2011.

He was born the third child of Stephen and Eva Naomi Cole Cannon (Cannan) on Friday, the 13th of February, 1925, in Mammoth, Juab, Utah. The family moved to Payson before Blaine was old enough to begin school. He received his public education in Payson before enlisting in the Army. He received basic training at Fort Hood, Texas. He then was assigned to train with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, becoming a weapons expert and adept in cross country skiing. Three months prior to completion of training and deployment to Europe during World War II he and 600 of his fellow trainees were reassigned to the South Pacific. He turned 18 in New Caledonia and not long afterward saw action on numerous small islands then eventually major combat on the islands of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He received a Bronze Star for his valor in conflict and served in occupied Japan for several years before serving in the Korean conflict where he was decorated with another Bronze Star. He served in the Army for twenty years stationed in various locations.

After retirement from the military, he worked as a chef at several restaurants and the State Mental Hospital in Provo, Utah, before working in the Wilkinson Center Dining Room at Brigham Young University. He retired from Brigham Young University in 1989. He then worked as a security guard at American Greetings warehouse in Payson until he retired completely to take care of his wife.

He married Beth Selman on June 30,1951, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather and son. A kind and gentle-mannered man, he is deemed a hero by many who knew him. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and sports, especially if family was involved in any way. He was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while stationed in Germany in 1961.

He is survived by: a daughter and two sons, Rebecca (Lynn) Evans, Portland, Oregon; Gary Blaine (Annette) Cannon, Payson; Robert (Becky Jo) Cannon, Wamsutter, Wyoming; 17 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Naomi (Glen) Peterson, Provo. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents; two brothers, Russell Lamar and Elden Eugene, and a sister, Charlene.

Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 23, at 11:00 a.m. at the Payson 16th Ward LDS Church, 650 West 800 South. Friends and Relatives may call at the Walker Mortuary, 587 South 100 West, Payson, Tuesday, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. or at the church Wednesday, 9:45 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Payson City Cemetery.

The family would like to express special appreciation to Alpine Hospice, especially to Stacey Hardy, Deana Hjelm, Beverly Madsen, Toni Deveraux, Matt Fellows and Peggy Cann for their loving and professional care.