Christopher Black Cannon's Obituary
Christopher Black Cannon passed away May 8, 2024 in Provo, Utah. We mourn the loss of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. Chris was a passionate visionary whose life was characterized by love and dedicated service to God, family and his fellow beings.
Chris was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 20, 1950 to Pauline Black and Adrian Wilcox Cannon. He married his devoted wife, Claudia Fox in the Salt Lake Temple August 5, 1978. They are the parents of eight children, one of whom, Rachel, passed away at a young age.
Chris was a dedicated member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and deeply committed to sharing the gospel throughout his life. He served a mission for the Church in the Guatemala-El Salvador Mission from 1970 to 1972 where he developed a deep affection for the indigenous people of Central America.
Chris received his undergraduate and law degrees from Brigham Young University and was a student at the Harvard Business School.
Early in his career, Chris practiced law and then served in the Administration of President Ronald Reagan as Associate Solicitor in the United States Department of the Interior.
Chris played an indispensable role in the acquisition of Geneva Steel from USX Corporation in 1987. While many saw this as an entrepreneurial project, Chris saw it in large part as a community service project. And, indeed, Geneva Steel blessed the lives of countless thousands of individuals and families in Utah.
Chris was long interested and involved in public policy and politics. In 1996, Chris was elected to the United States House of Representatives representing Utah’s Third Congressional District. Chris served in the House for twelve years. Regardless of the issue, the common thread of Chris’s service was a fearless defense of the Constitution.
It is well known in Washington that in Congress there are show horses and work horses. By the unanimous consent of his colleagues, Chris was a work horse. He quickly became known and respected for his grasp of complex issues and a willingness to do the hard work of legislating, exercising oversight, and pursuing needed reforms. In this, Chris was a worthy descendant of his great grandfather, George Q. Cannon, who also represented Utah in Congress as Territorial Delegate from 1873 to 1882.
On the powerful Judiciary Committee Chris served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law. He was ahead of his time in understanding the potential benefits and risks of technology for everyday Americans. His passion was to ensure access for all to the opportunities presented by the internet and information. His imprint is still felt today.
Likewise, Chris was a fierce champion for the rights of consumers and workers in the face of unfair monopolies and policies that enabled them. He was unafraid to fight for what he believed to be the best interests of those he served, and known for seeing beyond the horizon when it came to the ever-evolving role of government in the daily lives of Americans.
Chris drew on deeply held beliefs and values in his advocacy of immigration reforms that reconciled the rule of law, compassion, and both the nation’s security and economic interests. His courage and advocacy in this arena gained the respect and admiration of his colleagues and adversaries alike.
Chris never lost touch with his basic duties for those he served. As a member of the House Resources Committee, he fought for rural Utah at every turn and approached every issue through the lens of what was best for communities and families across the state.
The tragic loss of Chris and Claudia’s daughter, Rachel, to a rare cancer inspired another of Chris’s passions: Innovation in and better access to health care. In typical fashion, he was dogged in the pursuit of better ways to use research and knowledge to save lives. He carried that passion into his personal and professional life well beyond his service in Congress.
All the while, throughout his career in business and public service, Chris Cannon was, above all, a husband and father. In recent years, every conversation with Chris included the joy of being a grandfather.
Chris is survived by his wife Claudia, his children: Jane (Princeton) Collins, Laura (Aaron) Jensen, Emily (Jeffery) Walker, Jonathan (Danielle) Cannon, Matthew (Kelsey) Cannon, Elizabeth (Joseph) Horlacher, Catherine (Cameron) Hart and grandchildren: Ezra and Isabel Collins; Rachel, Nikolas, Evelynn, Simon, Matilda and Phoebe Jensen; Shale, Navy, Tyler and Duke Walker; Angus, Arik, Harrison, Lylah and Brynn Cannon; Stella Cannon; Leona, Gwyneth, Wolfgang and Esther Horlacher; Margot Hart. His siblings: Joe and Grant Cannon and Gloria Cannon-Faulds. His brother and sister in laws Angus (Irene) Fox, Dana (Dave) Hill, Robert Fox and Karen (Kelly) Nash. Chris is preceded in death by his daughter, Rachel, his parents and siblings: David, Kimball and Elizabeth.
Funeral services will Saturday, May 18, 2024 at 11:00 am in the Edgemont Stake Center, 303 W. 3700 N., Provo, Utah. A viewing will be held Friday evening at the Stake Center from 6:00 to 8:00 and prior to the services Saturday from 9:30 to 10:45. Burial will be at the Salt Lake City Cemetary.
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