Mary Gannon

Mary Lang Gannon, 92, passed away peacefully August 26, 2015 in Palmer with family by her side. A memorial service will be held at the United Protestant Church “Church of a Thousand Trees” 713 S Denali St. in Palmer on Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 3 p.m.

She was born November 5, 1922 in Lee, New Hampshire to Benjamin and Sarah Lang who raised nine daughters at the family farm and later moved to Bryantville, Massachusetts where the family ran the local grocery store. She graduated from Pembroke High School.

Mary and her late husband Jack Gannon retired in 1986 and spent a wonderful retirement traveling throughout North America choosing Palmer to call home. They were most proud of their many years of volunteer service at Alaska State Parks, as host and hostess for a record number of consecutive summers at Clearwater State Recreation Site, Delta Junction. Mary and Jack danced for many years with the Paws and Taws Square Dance Club in Palmer; they had originally met dancing with the Wethersfield, Connecticut Square Dance Club where they lived prior to retiring, they had danced often as they traveled. Mary had worked in food services and retired after many years at the Rocky Hill, Connecticut Veterans Home.

Surviving are four children by her late first husband, Lyle B. Connor of Marshfield, Massachusetts, and three sons-in-law, Linda Connor and Scott Smithline of Nelson, New Zealand, Jackie and Bob Regina of Newington, Connecticut, Kathy and Rob Maisel of Pine Brook, New Jersey, and Lyle Connor of Wethersfield Connecticut; six grandchildren, Carolynn Kowalsky, Steve Regina, Cristina Connor, Tamara Kropman, Tori Connor, Moorea Smithline; two great-grandchildren, Tabitha Kropman and Priscilla Kropman; and a younger sister, Faye Tuttle of Lee, New Hampshire.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Alaska Veterans Pioneer Home (AVPH), Activity Department, Attn: Ms. Celia Conrad 250 East Fireweed Ave., Palmer, AK 99645. Please include in check memo “AVPH Activity Department”.

The family would like to express gratitude for the staff at Alaska Veterans Pioneer Home in Palmer for their many years of kind and thoughtful care. May we all have wonderful memories of Mary’s happy spirit enjoying simple pleasures like a smile, friends, happy thoughts, a teddy bear and a little hot chocolate and cookies.