Effie Smithson

Effie Jane Cann Smithson

Born in Prentiss, Mississippi, in 1933. Second daughter of Simpson Frederick Cann and Effie Jane Tyrone Cann. "Little sister" of Myra Elizabeth Cann, most usually known as "Libby Cann".

Early childhood in Prentiss had Jane living in her mother and father's Southern Hotel. Jane was a favored child in the Tyrone clan which was centered around south-central Mississippi and occasionally wandered into central Louisiana.
Jane grew up and "out-grew" the quiet of the sleepy southern town. She exuberantly entered the "big world out there" at Copiah Lincoln Community College in Wesson, Mississippi. Even the Mississippi college scene couldn't contain her enthusiasm so she pounced upon the city of New Orleans and Soule College in particular the small town girl had grown to be a big city girl who knew lots of stuff… Even what a comptometer was.

Somehow Jane ended up in Denver in the early 1950's; when Denver "was like" what most of us wish it had "stayed like"; Happy Days, Rock and Roll and Great Music.

Near the end of the first half of the decade one of Jane's friends refused to date an Air Force guy unless, and only if, said guy procured a date for her friend; Effie Jane Cann, and Van Smithson met and swept off her feet that blossom of the deep south. How unlikely a union that was; a "DAR (Daughter of the American Revolution) and the Daughter of the Confederacy with a self-confessed Colorado horse-trader descended from a pack of charlatans that dealt with and stole from, both the Yankees and the Rebels.
This unlikely pair dated on, derived hope from, cared for and deeply loved one another. They travelled and played and visited and just stayed one with the other.

Then along came the only thing that could make them more close and their lives more full; a little bitty baby named Steven.
That pair became a trio with triple-tied bonds of love uniting them even more tightly with the passing of years.

They shared joys others can only aspire to and sorrows too deep to define.

All through her time with us Jane stood tall and proud, a grand dame.