His most recent public moment came in 2006, when he was evicted by court order from a subsidized downtown Salt Lake apartment, deemed to have violated his lease by creating a nuisance with a residence filled with debris and emitting a foul odor.

Acting as his own defense, Cannon said severe illnesses — nearly resulting in gangrene in his legs — prevented him from caring for his residence as well as he had hoped.

Lauro, one of Cannon's six surviving children, said her father had been in the Philippines for an extended vacation of several months prior to his death on June 2; the initial autopsy cited emphysema as the cause.

His remains took several weeks to be returned to Salt Lake City; his personal belongings are still en route. Scheduling challenges forced the family to delay graveside services at the Salt Lake City Cemetery until 11 a.m. Saturday, which would have been Cannon's 78th birthday.

e-mail: taylor@desnews.com