Dean Cannon

Real buckaroo and horse whisperer, Dean Cannon, passed away on May 19, 2026. Born in Lakeview, Oregon, on October 26, 1929, Dean was quiet and gentle, a good man. Even though he loved learning, Dean was a cowboy and quit school at 16. He worked at several ranches, then moved on to the ZX Ranch in Paisley. Eventually he was hired by the Carlon brothers because of his tremendous work ethic and ability to start young horses. Dean loved horses and, until his death, could remember the name, color, and personality of every horse he had owned, rode, or worked with. While working at Riley, Dean met and fell in love with Clara Parmele and, still courting Clara, he enlisted with the U.S. Army. He was very patriotic and became a communications radio operator while serving in Korea. When Dean returned home in 1954, he and Clara were married at Reno on May 19. (Yes, it seems as though he was waiting for that day to be reunited with the woman he loved unconditionally.) The couple then moved to Summer Lake where they raised two children, Debbie and Wayne. Eventually, Dean completed correspondence courses to become a heavy equipment operator and was employed by the Lake County Road Department. By then, the family was living on a small ranch now known as the Cannon Place. Dean raised cattle and worked to improve the place even as he worked long hours as a grader operator. When the time came for Dean to retire, he followed his wife to Bend from where they traveled extensively. Those trips they made were always filled with love, laughter, and joy. Dean was the best story-teller, especially if he was “telling on himself”; he loved music, playing the harmonica and piano by ear; he could fix anything, a seemingly perfect man who could, and would, point out his own faults; he’d give his last dollar if it meant he could help someone else; he loved his family beyond measure. As Dean’s health began to fail, he moved back to Summer Lake where he lived the last couple of years at home with his daughter. Dean is survived by daughter, Debbie Cannon; son, Wayne Cannon; granddaughter, Christie and husband Matt Mahoney; granddaughter, Heidi Kemmer; 4 great grandchildren, Sean and Molly Mahoney, Clayten Kemmer, and Conner Stanley; numerous nephews, nieces, and many wonderful friends. Two services will be held for Dean, one at Summer Lake and one at Bend. The first, an informal get-together will be June 21, 2026, 11:00 a.m. at the Cannon Place, Summer Lake. Food will be provided, stories told, pictures shared. The second will be July 8, 2026, 10:00 a.m. at Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home Chapel, 105 NW Irving Ave, Bend. At 11:00 a.m. Dean’s ashes will be placed with Clara at Pilot Butte Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Partners in Care Hospice, 2075 Wyatt Court, Bend, OR 97701-7686

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Dean Cannon

October 26, 1929 - May 19, 2026