Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee announces funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ruth Cannon, age 85, of Hiawassee, who passed away on Saturday evening, July 8, 2017 in Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia.

Mrs. Cannon was a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and was the daughter of George and Esther Strickland. She had been living in Hiawassee since 1980, moving here from Porterdale, Georgia. Mrs. Cannon was a member of Fellowship of Jesus Christ, in the Sunnyside area of Hiawassee. She will be fondly remembered as a good, dedicated Christian woman, who was devoted to her Savior, and a wonderful mother, who always cared for the needs of her family and others. Mrs. Cannon was a true Southern lady. An avid reader, and mostly of the Bible, but also the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Mrs. Cannon loved to travel, and was a wonderful cook. She was preceded in death by her parents, and her husband, Pastor Carl D. Cannon; two sisters, Patsy Griffin, and Faye Strickland.

Surviving family members left to treasure her memory are: son and daughter-in-law, David and Loretta Cannon, of Hiawassee; son, Stephen Cannon, of Tellico Plains, Tennessee; and son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Debbie Cannon, of Pelion, South Carolina; a sister, Jo An Fain, of Decatur, Georgia; Seven Grandchildren: Christina Cannon Turner, Matthew Cannon, Karl Cannon, Shawn Cannon, Deanna Cliatt, Darci Kenagy, and Danielle Sturm. Eighteen great grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, July 14, 2017, at 1:00 p.m., to be held in the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee, with Brother Richard Rickman officiating. Burial will be in Laurel Hills Memory Gardens. The family will meet with friends on Friday, July 14th, for one hour before the funeral service. Flowers will be gratefully accepted; however, if you wish to do so, memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Cochran Funeral Home of Hiawassee. Please sign our online guest registry at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com, and share your condolences with the family.