Joyce Fay Montgomery Cannon

Joyce Fay Montgomery Cannon passed from this life the morning of December 7, 2022 at her home in Rialto, California while on hospice and being cared for by her family.

Joyce was born in Speegleville, Texas on January 22, 1935, to Lucille and Eben Montgomery Jr. Though she was an only child, Joyce had dear cousins that were like siblings to her. She was an exceptional student and excelled all throughout her school years competing at the state level in speech and debate. Incredibly focused while attending Baylor University, she graduated after only two and a half years. Upon completing her BA mid-year, she took a spring term teaching position at a junior high school in Port Arthur, Texas as a social studies teacher for a class that included a young Janis Joplin.

After teaching another year in Waco and finishing a master’s degree at the University of Iowa, she took the advice of her dear friend Nancy Carlson and moved West to teach at the newly constructed Westchester high school in Inglewood, California. There she met her lifelong love, Jerry Cannon, who was also a first-year teacher having come from Greeley, Colorado.

Joyce and Jerry married on June 24, 1960. They had two sons, Chris and Curtis, and made their home first in Carson and then in San Pedro, California.

From 1965 to her retirement in 1990 Joyce worked as a speech and English instructor, counselor, and career advisor at Los Angeles Harbor College. She was a beloved teacher and colleague.
Throughout her marriage with Jerry, they traveled the world many times over. They enjoyed the many wonderful and varied arts and cultural offerings of Los Angeles, regularly attending performances at all of the Los Angeles Music Center venues, LA Philharmonic concerts, the Hollywood Bowl, museums, galleries, regional theatre, and so much more. They raised their children with that same deep appreciation and curiosity for the world’s vast diversity and beauty.

Joyce was an advocate for many, an inspirer and mentor, a champion of public school, and a deep believer that everyone deserves a quality education. She was a fighter for women’s rights, full equality, and complete agency over their own bodies and destinies. She delighted in visiting with and meeting new people, and having new enlightening experiences. She was a proud supporter and ally of the lgbtq+ community and a longtime member and leader with PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends or Lesbians and Gays). She participated, with Jerry, in numerous pride festival booths that offered hugs to all who longed for the care and support of a loving parent.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lucille and Eben Montgomery Jr., her in-laws, Irene and Mott Cannon, her son-in-law, David Verdery, and her beloved husband of fifty-one years, Jerry Cannon.
Left to treasure her incredible life and memory are her son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Laura Cannon, Son, Curtis Montgomery Cannon, sister in law, Ruth Cannon, granddaughter and partner, Kari Stickney and Brian Magruder, grandson and wife, Jason and Brit Stickney, great-grandchildren Jason, Bennett, and linden, numerous cousins, and many many friends.

She will be interred next to her husband in a private family gathering at Green Hills Mortuary Park in San Pedro, California.

In Lieu of flowers, a donation to Talitha Koum Institute (talithakoum.org), The Red Door Pantry (centraltexmcc.com), or Waco Pride Network (wacopride.org) would be a wonderful honoring of her memory.