Carol Cannon Richardson

Carol Cannon Richardson 81, of Bonita Springs died on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 due to a heart attack. She was born May 31, 1934 in New York City, NY the eldest child of Arthur J. and Dorothy E. (neé Richardson) Cannon. Carol lived in Ft. Myers and Bonita Springs for the past 55 years. She studied for two years at the University of Virginia Hospital School of Nursing where she began preparing for her Operating Room Nursing degree and worked in the Cardiovascular OR. Carol received her diploma in Operative Aseptic Technique from John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore and returned to the University of Florida Shands Teaching Hospital in Gainesville to be the first cardiac surgical nurse there and in her final year created an OR program to train medical and nursing students in sterile techniques. She also worked for the Morgan Plant Hospital Operating Room in Clearwater, FL. Carol met her husband, the late Ralph A. Richardson in the University of Florida infirmary and were married in November of 1958 while Ralph was in his 2nd year of law school at U of F and she was working in the OR there. In 1960 they returned to Ralph’s hometown of Ft. Myers and after Ralph passed his Bar exam, he became the first attorney in Bonita Springs, FL. In 1989, they built a home in Spanish Wells. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs, the Red Hat Society and a 44 year member of AA. She was pre deceased by her parents, Arthur Joseph Cannon and Dorothy Ellen Cannon; her husband, Ralph A. Richardson, Sr. and her daughter, Holly Elaine Richardson. She is survived by her three children, son, Ralph A. Richardson, Jr. (Holly) of Evergreen, CO; daughters, Robin Richardson Reese (Steve) Cornelius, NC and Candy Carol Lieberenz (Kevin) of Greenville, SC and her brother, Arthur Bruce Cannon (Lucy) of Charlotte, NC. She is also survived by her beloved four grandsons, Ryan Davis, Tyler Reese, Steuart Richardson and Conner Richardson. The family will receive friends Tuesday, October 13, 2015 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home 28300 Tamiami Tr. So. Bonita Springs. Private graveside services will be held Wednesday at Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens. A Memorial Service to celebrate her life will be held Wednesday at 2:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs 9751 Bonita Beach Rd. with Rev. Dr. Douglas G. Pratt, Senior Pastor, officiating. The family asks that memorial contributions in Carol’s name be made to the Ralph A. Richardson Scholarship Fund C/O the Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce 25071 Chamber of Commerce Dr. Bonita Springs, FL 34135. Please write in the memo: Southwest Florida Community Foundation. Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home 992-4982.

Carol Cannon Richardson

May 31, 1934 - October 6, 2015