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Shirley Baker Cannon, formerly of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on Oct. 12 in Essex, at 96 years old.

Shirley was born May 21, 1925, to Helen and Quin Baker in Sapulpa, Oklahonma. She was raised in Ft. Scott, Kansas. She attended Ft. Scott High School where her “Being an American” made her the first female to win the Kansas Oratorical contest. Her patriotic spirit continued throughout her life. Her instrument of choice was a cello and she loved leading the band as a drum majorette.

Shirley attended Kansas State University, where she majored in journalism and home economics and was a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority. She continued to be an active alumna of the sorority and spearheaded many of their fund raisers in Kansas City including opening their Mission Hills home for the annual holiday house tour.

Following graduating from Kansas State University, she landed her dream job in Chicago with Armour and Company. She worked in the test kitchen and hosted its weekly radio program “Cooking with Marie Gifford.”

Shirley married her husband Richard T. Cannon, whom she met through her college roommate Madonna Cannon in 1950. They raised their family in Leawood, Kansas.

In addition to her life as a devoted mother and loyal friend, Shirley assumed many leadership roles as a community volunteer, from the K-State Alumni Association to Habitat for Humanity. She was also a longtime member of Indian Hills Country Club, where she and Dick hosted many themed dinner parties. Shirley’s melodic soprano voice could be heard in the Village Church choir. When Shirley and Dick moved to Huntington Farms, they joined Church of the Resurrection as one of the founding members.

Shirley’s ability to harness the beauty in nature was unmatched as seen in countless gardens from her home in Mission Hills, Kansas, to Huntington Farms, to the Church of the Resurrection Memorial Garden. Shirley will be remembered for her kindness to others and her generosity.

In 2008, Shirley began an new chapter in Essex, moving there to be with her daughter, Melinda Cannon Kingsbury and son-in-law Jack Kingsbury (d.2015), picking up the New England lifestyle with ease. She lent her gardening skills to her new community and was featured in local advertisements pruning the gardens of her new residence.

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Richard T. Cannon; her parents; and her siblings, Mary Lou Bell, and Quin M. Baker. Along with her daughter Melinda, she is survived by sons, Todd Cannon and Craig Cannon; grandchildren Britton Norden (Rick), Micah Cannon (Catherine), Elizabeth Cannon (Micah), Allison Johnson (Dustin), and Joe Cannon (Haley); six great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; brother David Baker of San Francisco; and dear friends Sharon Franke and Hillary Franke Church.

We are forever grateful to Amy Knaggs, Pam Ryan, and many others who made The Saybrook at Haddam and Essex Meadows happy havens of compassion and care in recent times.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Essex Meadows Scholarship Fund 30 Bokum Rd, Essex, CT 06426.

A private family celebration of Shirley’s life will be held at Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas.

To share a memory of Shirley or send a condolence to her family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements are in the care of the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbook.