Cenith June Cannon-Wells
June Cannon-Wells LONGMONT, Colo. — Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and wife, Cenith June Cannon-Wells, born June 5, 1942, in Pawnee, died peacefully July 28, 2024, at the age of 82, in Longmont, Colo.
June, as she liked to be called, is preceded in death by her partner in life Roland Wells; parents, Katherine and Otto Opkis, Randolph; brothers, Don, Irvin, Willard, Vern and Delmar; and sisters, Bernadine, Marie and Eileen.
She leaves to cherish her memory her three children, Julie; Mike and his wife, DeAnna; and Bobbi-Kay and her husband, Jeff Sr.; sisters, Shirlene and MaryAnn; 10 grandchildren, Jeffrey Jr., Amber, Kenneth, Lacey, Khrystal, Levi, and Tesla; Heather, Hailey, and Emma; and 15 great-grandchildren, Miles, Alexz, Ryein, Annibelle, Avery, Grace, Autumn, Gabe, Gage, Kendyl, Cruz, Alaynah, Kiro, Acacia and a new baby on the way.
June loved being with her grandchildren, as they all grew up on the farm sledding, drinking hot chocolate, riding horses, motorcycles, 3-wheelers, go carts and anything else on wheels. All her grandchildren first learned to drive with Grandma’s truck, driving around and around in the big circle drive. All her grandchildren had baths in Grandma’s sink on the farm. Later, she was blessed to spend time with her great-grandchildren at family events and get-togethers. It was not hard to love Grandma June, she was so much a kid herself.
June grew up in Randolph and loved to sing. She recorded records at Heartbreak Records and Kay Bank Recording Company as Cenith Opkis at 15 years old, and even appeared on the Grand Ole Opry at age 16. She loved country music, her Fender Kingman guitar, and her accordion. She was no stranger to hard work and never met a challenge she couldn’t overcome. She even sacrificed her pinky for the tree farm (Well’s Tree Service and Nursery, Longmont) and never complained a bit.
After moving to Colorado, she had a band and sang all over the state of Colorado for dances, weddings and at nightclubs. Later on, she sang Karaoke with her amazing Karaoke family in Longmont, and would sing frequently at the American Legion and VFW Clubs with all her friends.
Everyone that knew her felt her immense kindness, saw a bit of her orneriness, and loved her timeless beauty. June will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
June’s Celebration of Life service was Aug. 13 at Faith Community Lutheran Church, Longmont. Pastor Lucas Kinser presided.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Legion in her name.