David Canon

David (Dave) Browning Canon of Abilene, passed away on April 6, 2025 at his home in Abilene, TX. Visitation will be on Saturday, April 12, at 10 AM followed by a Memorial Service starting at 11 AM at Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road.

Dave was born in Omaha, Nebraska to Lillian Hazle Browning and Thaddeus Relvy Canon on September 29, 1928. He had one sibling, Shirley Claire Canon Goff. They were raised by their widowed mother during the Great Depression with some assistance from their grandparents, Hazle (Dearie) and William Browning in Oklahoma City. Dave's military career began in high school at Oklahoma Military Academy where he was talented at accumulating demerits for minor infractions which required escorting "Miss Springfield", a rifle, for four hours almost every weekend walking off tours around the football field. Being a patriotic young man, he enlisted in the USAF to serve his country by flying in B-26s in Korea.

After the Korean War, Dave attended Oklahoma University and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He married the sweetheart of his life, Carolyn Ann Riser, on June 14, 1958 in Henryetta, Oklahoma. Together they had two daughters, Beth and Karen.

Upon returning to the Air Force, he served as an aircraft maintenance officer in Vietnam. Dave's military career as a B-52 and C-130 navigator took him and his family to France, Italy, across the United States and, finally, to Dyess AFB where he retired in 1975. Ann and Dave made Abilene their forever home as he pursued his passion for real estate enthusiastically encouraging and teaching his children and grandchildren the art of real estate investing, and the importance of managing one's finances to be debt-free.

Dave's home away from home was the local YMCA where he stopped by daily to play racquetball, swim, or jog, and where he was given the nickname that made us all chuckle, "Super Dave." Blessed with good health and an abundance of energy, he loved to actively play with his grandchildren and great grandchildren well into his 90s.

Dave is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ann, of 53 years, his sister, Shirley, and her husband, Dean Goff. He is survived by his two daughters, Beth Nottingham of Abilene and Karen (Joey) Light of Abilene; his ten grandchildren, Blaine (Taylor) Thompson of Boise, ID, Kyle Thompson of Houston, Tristan Nottingham of Tucson, AZ, Cheyenne Nottingham of Detroit, MI, Jordan (Jen) Light of Quanah, Cameron (Ryan) Plourde of Rapid City, SD, Josh (Kate) Light of Houston, Christian (Vinicius) Silva of Lake Mary, FL, Josiah (Katie Jo) Light of Bryan, Terry Light of Abilene, TX; and 14 great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to the YMCA of Abilene, 3125 S. 32nd St., Abilene, TX 79605. The family of Dave Canon wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Allen Schultz, Arcadia Home Care of Abilene staff and caregivers, and Hospice of the Big Country.