Dawn Denise Cannaday

Dawn Denise Cannaday passed away at home in Smithville, Texas at the age of 59 on Tuesday, July 14, 2020, surrounded by her family.

Dawn was the oldest of four children and was born on December 9, 1960, in Houston, Texas to Judith and George Matthews. She met the love of her life and eternal companion, Kenneth Brett Cannaday, at the age of 16 and two years later they were married on June 17, 1978, in Houston, Texas. Before her passing, Dawn and Kenn lovingly celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary.

Dawn is survived by her husband and eternal companion Kenn; five children and their spouses: Carl James (CJ) and Blain, Brian and Blanca, Clinton and Carissa, Sheana and Austin; her adopted granddaughter Maleah; two brothers and sister: Philip, Jason, and Joanna; mother: Judith; nine grandchildren: Jaden, Mikayla, Gavin, Brett, Amara, Kylie, Morgan and Adalynn; and many other close family members and friends that she loved dearly.

Dawn leaves a lasting legacy of love and dedication to her family. She believes that families are forever, there was nothing more important to her than her family. Those that know Dawn will know that she loved deeply and completely, with love that was unconditional for her husband, children, grandchildren, and family. She enjoyed cooking, baking, and loved making big meals that brought her entire family together throughout the year, she especially loved having her family gather for Thanksgiving and Christmas. She was known for many special family loved dishes and desserts. She enjoyed playing the piano, gardening, sewing, and artistic crafts of many kinds. Dawn loved to appreciate and had an eye for beauty in all of its forms. She especially loved roses, hearts, and angels and you could find them all over her home and person.

She enjoyed many special family traditions but one of her favorites was that her husband and children would read her the book “Love You Forever” by author Robert Munsch each year on Mother's Day. After reading the book to her that day, all of the children and grandchildren that were there would go around the room and tell her the things they loved about her and the reasons she was special to them. Dawn loved to travel and explore new places. One of her favorite places, that she visited frequently, was Walt Disney World. She loved sharing in the magic with her family and especially loved really fast roller coasters. Dawn loved spending as much time as possible with her children and grandchildren, she and Kenn even started playing Pokémon Go to spend special time with their kids and grandkids, walking and driving around on adventures. For many years as her children grew up, she maintained the tradition of baking and decorating a special cake of their choice by hand on their birthday. She was an extremely talented cake decorator and could intricately recreate almost any request her children would make, from cartoon characters to race cars, as a birthday cake for them to enjoy. She lovingly called her family her potpourri, because she believed that it wasn’t only the things they had in common but that it was also their differences that made them beautiful and special to her.

Throughout her life, Dawn was very active in her church and served in many teaching and leadership capacities. She truly loved serving others and valued the many relationships that she built with individuals over the years. Dawn was married and sealed for time and all eternity to Kenn in the Mesa Arizona Temple on December 18, 1981. Dawn has a strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, and she has returned to her Father in Heaven and to her Savior. Dawn is now with her father-in-law Billy J Cannaday and her beloved Aunt Esther King, who preceded her in death.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, July 21, 2020, at Bastrop Providence Funeral Home from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, July 22, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. at Cook Walden Capital Park Cemetery IH-35, Pflugerville, Texas.