WILLCOX Cowboy Hall of Fame inductees
Daisy Mae Cannon (134)
1936 - 2015
2023 COWBOY HALL OF FAME POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Daisy Mae Cannon was born December 25, 1936 in Amarillo, Texas. She only lived in Texas for six weeks before her family moved to Arizona. She and her brother grew up on the Four Pole Ranch just north of Benson, AZ. She was her dad´s right-hand man and he bought Daisy Mae her first horse and first cow at the ripe old age of five.
Her Dad told her, he bought the horse, but she would have to buy her own saddle. Daisy Mae began saving her birthday money and her Christmas money, finally putting away enough to pay $17.50 for her first saddle.
In 1953, Daisy Mae married the love of her life, Joe Cannon. They met at a holiday dance and six months later they were married. Some of their first conversations were about a ranch of their own, with a white picket fence and some kids. The kids came first as they had two children, Marian Jo (Sissy) and Keith (Bopper).
They started their married life by leasing a ranch in Cochise, AZ, off Dragoon Road. However, it was a lifelong dream to own their own ranch. Daisy Mae drove a school bus and worked at the Cochise School saving every penny, still hoping that she and Joe would someday have a place of their own. Finally, that dream came true when they bought a small ranch in Greenlee County where they lived for the next 50 years. Their herd started with Hereford cows and Daisy loved her Herefords, but they did introduce other breeds as markets changed.
Daisy Mae did everything any other cowboy did except rope, as she did not want to lose a finger. She was a real stickler for cowboy etiquette- like removing a hat when you enter a building and leaving the chaps and spurs in the barn. She said there was no rough stock to be ridden in the house.
It wasn´t uncommon to see Daisy Mae and her two toddlers at the Willcox Livestock Auction when they brought their calves to town. This was where she saw many of her old friends and as always, made some new friends. She had a big heart and always had room for new friends. She lived for her friends and her family.
Sissy said, “Mom loved to cook.” Daisy spent many hours cooking after working on the ranch. In fact, when she was done working cattle, she would go in the house and first change her clothes then start cooking. If she was needed back outside for some reason, she would change back into her work clothes then head outside. Daisy Mae also spent many night sewing clothes for herself and her daughter. If you wanted a fancy western shirt, she was the one to contact.
She was a 4-H leader for 45 years and she was always fixing dinners for the FFA kids. You could say she had a passion to mentor the youth in Agriculture. Daisy Mae was a longtime member of the County, State and National Cowbelles and Cattlemen organizations. She was named Cattlewoman of the year in 2006.
She had a big heart and cared deeply about people, especially kids. She said what she meant and meant what she said. One of the best compliments she received was that she lived what she believed in, and because of that belief, she served the cattle industry all her life.
Daisy Mae left behind a legacy for her children, grandchildren, and even great grandchildren to honor and remember. Daisy Mae Cannon´s heritage was being a rancher, and she lived her heritage.
She passed away January 13, 2015.
Plain and simple Daisy Mae Cannon was a rancher. And tonight, we honor Daisy Mae for her years of work in the cattle industry, with her induction into the Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Daisy Mae Cannon