Obituary: Louella Cannon

Louella Cannon

1922 ~ 2007

Born June 9, 1922 in the family home in the Cottonwoods, right across the street from where Lou has been living since 2001.Lou's mother, Louella Fowlks Cummings Green, died when Lou was only nine mos old. She was raised by her beloved Aunt Florinda who she called Aunt Mom and her Uncle John.

Lou attended the University of Utah where she received her Bachelor Degree from the PE/Dance Department. After graduation, she studied dance in New York with the renowned Martha Graham and Kathryn Dunham. She taught at the U of Utah for five years before moving to No. California where she owned and taught in her own dance studio.

She worked with Virginia Tanner at the U of U and then started the Life Arts Center at 2300 East and 7000 South in the Hillside Plaza with her good friend Pearl Garff.

Lou was well known in dance and musicals in both Utah and California. She was the first Utah dancer chosen for the original performance of The Promised Valley starring the famous Alfred Drake. Only 10 Utah dancers were chosen from over 300 auditions. The remaining dancers were all hired from New York. The production was performed at the Stadium Grounds of the University of Utah summer in the summer of 1947. She also danced in Showboat, Midsummer Night's Dream and Brigidoon.

Back to So. California, Lou taught with a professional group, The Newman Dancers, teaching and choreographing the children. Lou also studied ballet with Harold Christensen (brother of Wm. Christensen) at the San Francisco Opera House. Starting in 1948 she choreographed productions at the Pasadena Playhouse and was chosen to be the choreographer for The Promised Valley for the 1954 production.

Lou served as President of the Pioneer Memorial Theater Auxiliary, served as an officer and board member of the Symphony Guild, the Utah Opera, Ballet West, Opera Appreciation and was the Chairman of the 1980 Opera Ball Fundraiser. She's sung with the Cottonwood 1st Ward choir for years. She also worked as the international buyer for Cardall's. In addition to her beautiful dancing, Lou was an avid tennis player and golfer. She was a member of the Cottonwood Club for over 37 years with great love and appreciation for her many friends there. She was an active member of a bridge club that played together for over 30 years.

Lou has been a member of the LDS church her entire life serving in many positions including, of course, choreographer in four different roadshows- each winning first place.

She has had a deep love for her brothers and sisters, all of whom were raised in different homes after the death of their mother. Lou was the youngest of six children, three brothers: Reeder, Glen, and Grant Cummings; two sisters, Ruth Charlotte and Florabelle have all preceded her in death.

Their ancestry includes Honore Welch who sailed to America on the Mayflower and then crossed the plains with a handcart company at the age of 20. Lou was a member of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers.

Lou is married to David Cannon, a life long friend and then a loving husband of 17 years. She has two living sons, Michael and Jordan, daughter-in-law, Tanya and two dear grandchildren, Keegan and Gretchen Swenson, ages 13 and 11. Lou has two step daughters, Miki Bringhurst and Shelle Kilgrow. Her two other sons, Kim and Scott Swenson have preceded her in death, as have her husbands, Gardner Swenson and Ward Blazzard. Lou also has a special place in her heart for her niece, Kim Holmes and Velia Coleman who have been such a support to Lou and David plus so many other dear friends too numerous to list.

A memorial service for Lou will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2007 at 12 noon at the Cottonwood 1st Ward, 5850 S. Highland drive.