Roll Call Tribute

Kelly Jan Canon
June 6, 1959 - January 10, 2022

Kelly Canon, 62, of Arlington, TX passed away on Monday January 10, 2022 surrounded by her family. An 8th generation Texan, Canon was a passionate fighter for freedom and liberty for the State of Texas.

Kelly was born on June 6, 1959 in Palestine, TX, as the first daughter of Cliff and Karen McCutcheon. There were many cities Kelly called home as a young child of a United States Air Force father. When Kelly was six years old, they moved to Lake Jackson, TX, for a brief time on Yaupon St., and then a longer stay on Narcissus St. While attending Lake Jackson Intermediate School, she enjoyed her time as a twirler, and eventually moving on to play the French horn in the Brazoswood High School Band. Kelly was an exceptionally gifted artist specializing in charcoal and pencil work, which were commissioned by many for family portraits.

After graduating Brazoswood High School, she proudly sent herself through college, graduating from Texas A&M University in College Station, TX in 1982 with a Bachelor of Environmental Design degree. She was the most loyal Aggie fan anyone ever knew, attending nearly every Aggie game and bonfire. She also took pride and enjoyment in subjecting her Texas Longhorn family to seeing her maroon jersey each year at Thanksgiving, while we delighted in our burnt orange jerseys; an annual friendly family feud for the ages. Her senior ring will be gifted to a deserving senior in her major at a future date.

She spent nearly her entire career, over 26 years, with L3 Communications and then CAE USA as a Project Specialist, Interior Space Planner. Her supervisor Gary Bass wrote, “Kelly loved her job and was happiest when she was producing drawings for new construction projects or planning ways to lay out our facilities. Kelly took pride in her work and her attention to detail was apparent in everything she did. Her unique point of view and one-of-a-kind personality will be missed around the Facilities Department and throughout the CAE Arlington campus”.

As an active member of the Republican party, her political career included a successful grassroots effort to ban red-light cameras for the State of Texas. In 2014, Canon was awarded the Texas Conservative Leader Award presented to her by Ted Cruz. She also volunteered for State Representative Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) 2018 campaign. Tinderholt wrote Monday: “Today we lost a good friend and Patriot, Kelly Canon. Kelly was affectionately known as my “campaign co-manager. She was an original member of Team Tinderholt back in the very early campaign days when we used to meet upstairs in my home. I was honored to work with her during the past 8 years, pushing Conservative Republican priorities. She was smart, kind, loyal, dedicated, and a hard worker. She helped defeat red light cameras and helped get many conservative candidates elected to office.”

Her sister Kimmy James wrote in a message regarding her passing: “My sister was fearless, so much more so than me. She dared to walk the walk and talk the talk. She loved God and the State of Texas. Kelly amazed me by the way she would jump into her passions. She stood for Liberty and Justice and would fight to the end for everyone's right to the freedoms our constitution protects.”

In 2018, Kelly was interviewed by the Texas Scorecard, and was quoted: “I guarantee you, the hard work does pay off! But you have to be willing to do the hard work. Don’t wait for the other guy to do it. You do it. Be an example for others!”

Kelly is survived by her mother Karen Jan McCutcheon of Lewisville, TX, her sisters Kimmy James of Austin, TX and Kristy Vivian of Lakewood Village, TX. She also whole-heartedly loved her nieces, Brooke Gaddis of Austin, TX, and Julia Burkhalter of Lakewood Village, TX, and nephew SSgt Nathan Vivian, USAF Abilene, TX. She adored her great-grand nephew Evan James of Sugar Land, TX, and nieces Lainey and Stella Gaddis of Austin, TX.

The family will gather this summer to remember Kelly at Surfside Beach, one of her favorite places that always filled her heart with happy memories.

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:10