John M. Gannon, of 18 W. 5th St., Oil City, died peacefully Thursday, December 12, 2013 at Fairview Manor in Fairview, following a brief illness.
Born March 8, 1925 in Lucinda, PA, he was the son of the late William H. and Pauline Hargenrader Gannon. He was the seventh of their 14 children.
Mr. Gannon retired as a journeyman machinist from Chicago Pneumatic Tools, Franklin, PA, in 1984. He previously worked for Pennzoil and, briefly, PG&E in Bakersfield, CA. After retirement he made deliveries for the Double Bloom Flower Shop in Oil City.
Mr. Gannon served proudly in the United States Navy, joining the service in 1943, and seeing action as a Machinist’s Mate on board LCT 659 during the Normandy Campaign. His vessel carried medical supplies to Omaha Beach on the second landing wave of the D-Day Invasion. He was honorably discharged in 1945.
Upon his return to western Pennsylvania he met Alice Catlin of Tionesta. They were married September 1, 1950. She shared his love of the outdoors and they spent much of their time camping or enjoying walks in the woods. Both belonged to the Oil City chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America. He served two terms as the club’s president and was the longtime range master, and for years, coordinated the semi-monthly muzzle loader shoots and Friday evening Junior Rifle Club instruction.
Mr. Gannon was an avid firearms enthusiast, hunter and fisherman. He counted beekeeping, gardening, and tinkering with anything mechanical, among his many hobbies.
A man of deep faith, he attended St. Stephen Church, where he served for decades as an usher at the 7:30 am Sunday Mass. A patriot, he was a member of American Legion Post 32.
He is survived by his children, Rita Johnson, and her husband Bill, of Lake City, PA, Stephen and his wife Patty of Waterville, NY; his grandchildren Brian Gannon, and Angela Meyers and her husband James of Clearwater, FL,
Mary Kate Gannon of Nashville, TN and Anthony Gannon of Waterville. Surviving siblings include his brothers Pat, Larry and Paul and a sister Edith Steel and their spouses, and brother-in-law Charles Catlin. Also surviving are dozens of nieces and nephews.
Mr. Gannon was predeceased by his wife, his oldest son Philip, three brothers and six sisters.
Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home on Tuesday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in St. Stephen Church at 10 am Wednesday with the Rev. Matthew Ruyechan, pastor, presiding.
The family would like to thank the staff of the transitional care unit of Millcreek Community Hospital, Erie, PA and Fairview Manor, Fairview, PA, for the care they gave Mr. Gannon. Also, they would like to express their deepest gratitude to family friends Vicki Porter, a longtime neighbor, Tom and Judy Cochran, and Preston Morrow for helping Mr. Gannon continue to enjoy life independently at his beloved home on Fifth St.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that tributes in Mr. Gannon’s memory be made to any of the following charitable organizations: St. Stephen Church, Oil City, PA the Oil City Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America or
American Legion Post 32.
Please visit the Tribute Wall at www.morrisonhome.com to share a memory or leave a condolence.