LeLane Cannon Taylor, 85, of Gilbertsville, Kentucky died Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 6:50 a.m. at the Linda E. White Hospice House in Evansville, Indiana. LeLane was born June 7,1939 in Pratt, Kansas. She was the only child of Albert “Bud” and Alberta Pauline “Polly” Cannon. She was born nine years into their marriage and they doted on her, she never lacked for anything especially unconditional love. People of boundless faith, her parents raised her to love the Lord. In turn, she spent her lifetime showing unconditional love. Growing up in the Calvin Bottoms, LeLane enjoyed an idyllic childhood. Her home was filled with friends and many days were spent swimming in the family’s cement pond. As a teenager, LeLane had the coolest cars and was fond of drag racing with the local boys. She usually won. Long before cell phones, the news of her escapades always reached her Dad before she returned home! Her lead foot tendencies carried into adulthood earning her the nickname Mario.
She attended school in Crossville, Illinois, graduating with the Class of 1957. She was proud to be a Crossville Tiger and rarely missed the annual Alumni celebration. The entire Taylor family calendar revolved around this Memorial Day event. LeLane attended Murray State University where she met her husband, Jerry. They were married on September 5, 1959 at Crossville Missionary Baptist Church. Her uncle, Bill Cannon, officiated the ceremony. Uncle Bill always bragged that he “tied the knot tight.” Jerry and LeLane were blessed with two children, Mona LeLane and Kelly Tad. As a family, they traveled and camped often. LeLane was famous for her roadside picnics of ham sandwiches and chips, enjoyed whenever possible by a bubbling brook or stream.
In the early 1970s, LeLane began nursing school. She graduated from Olney Central College in 1972 as a registered nurse. Nursing was her calling. She loved caring for her patients and their families. Her first nursing jobs were at Baldwin Nursing Home in Grayville and at Fairfield Memorial Hospital. LeLane was also the nurse at Champion Labs in Albion. In those days, the factory wasn’t air conditioned and she would tend to lots of men with leg cramps. She often joked that she would give them menstrual cramp medication for their cramps while never telling them they were taking Midol! It was at Wabash General Hospital, Mt. Carmel, where LeLane found her career home. She worked there until her health forced her into retirement.
On their Honda GoldWing, she and Jerry traveled much of the United States and Canada. They were proud members of the GoldWing Road Riders Association. They especially loved traveling with fellow GWRRA members, her cousins, Rad and Kellene Johnson, and many other dear friends. When LeLane’s cousins, Dave and Jan Cannon, lived in Europe and Hawaii, she and Jerry traveled to visit with them. They also enjoyed an extended cruise of the Panama Canal.This past July, she and Mona cruised Alaska with cousins, Tony and Reggie Cannon. LeLane said those views gave her a glimpse of Heaven. But of all the places she traveled, she loved the Blue Ridge Mountains the most. “There’s just something about running water,” she always said.
Since 2011, the Cannon family has enjoyed bi-annual cousin reunions. LeLane always looked forward to those. One is planned for this June, she will be with us in spirit. LeLane was a faithful follower of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She was raised in Crossville Missionary Baptist Church where her father led the worship service and her mom taught Sunday School. In her teenage years, she began playing the organ for church services and did so for many years. She loved music and was honored to play the organ or piano at dozens of weddings. Her favorite songs to play were Lara’s Theme (Somewhere My Love) from Doctor Zhivago and When They Ring Those Golden Bells. As a young mother, she attended Northside Baptist Church in Grayville where she also served as organist. The family was in church “every time the doors were open.” After moving to Kentucky, she attended East Marshall Baptist Church. In recent years, she loved visiting Cowboy Church, with Brother Chris Clarke, because she could take Pearl to church!
In her early twenties, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. She underwent 26 major surgeries due to complications. When she was 30, she was told she wouldn’t live to see 40. LeLane credited her faith in her Jesus for her ability to continue fighting the horrible disease. Even at her sickest and weakest, she shouted His praises and shared His promises with those around her. She and Jerry lived in the same home in Grayville until 2000 when they moved to Kentucky Lake to care for Grandma Polly. They enjoyed their time on the lake, boating, fishing, hosting company, and making friends.
After Jerry’s death in 2012, LeLane lived independently on Buckhorn Bay. She kept the road to Illinois “hot” making frequent visits to see her namesake grandson, Cannon Blake. Cannon was the absolute joy of her life. She loved watching him play all the sports and visiting him at school. LeLane loved volunteering at Marcella’s Kitchen in Benton, Kentucky, where she made many special friends. Not one to sit around, she and Pearl would frequent every yard sale they could find, make daily trips to the Dairy Queen because “Pearl wanted ice cream,” and shop at all the stores Pearl could visit. She and Pearl could be seen all around the neighborhood on the golf cart. They loved to go beachcombing and dumpster diving.
LeLane was preceded in death by her parents Bud and Polly, her husband Jerry, special cousin Kellene Johnson who was like a sister to her, cousin Billy Dean Cannon, three special uncles Bill, R.V., and Gene Cannon; and a granddaughter. She leaves behind her brokenhearted family, including children: Mona and Randy Warrick of Carmi; Tad and Heather Buckman Taylor of Crossville; Michael Sweeney and family of New Baden; grandson, Cannon Blake Taylor of Crossville; granddaughter, Melinda Warrick of Owensboro, Kentucky; great-grandson, Ifeanyichukwu “Ify” Warrick Ude of Owensboro, Kentucky; special in-laws, Jim and Dean Buckman; and her precious furbaby, Pearl. LeLane is also survived by her dear cousins and their families: Joe and Kay Cannon of Edmond, Oklahoma; David Keith and Jan Cannon of Hampton, Virginia; Tony and Regina Cannon of Weatherford, Oklahoma; Rusty and Carol Cannon of Carnegie, Oklahoma; Mark and Sarette Hicks of Brevard, North Carolina; Rick Sutton of Murray, Kentucky; and Linda Snyder of Winter Haven, Florida.
A celebration of life will be held Saturday, March 15 at Crossville Missionary Baptist Church, 507 N. State Street, Crossville, Illinois. Friends may gather from noon until service time at 2 p.m. Pastors Ronnie Fellows and David Smith will officiate. LeLane loved animals and helping others. The family would love It if you honor her memory by making donations to Pets at Risk White County, the Carmi Compassion Center, Marcella’s Kitchen in Benton, Kentucky, or your favorite animal welfare organization. Donations will be accepted at the celebration of life.
Additionally, a celebration of life will be held in June at LeLane’s home on Kentucky Lake.
LeLane’s family will never forget the passionate love and care she received at Premier Healthcare New Harmony and at the Linda E. White Hospice Home in Evansville, Indiana.
The family has entrusted to Campbell Funeral Home in Carmi, with LeLane’s care.
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