Ronald “Smiler” Hines Canaday was born in Gentry County, Missouri on November 6, 1911 and passed away at Colonial Manor in Albany, Missouri on Thursday, November 8, 2012 at the age of 101. He was preceded in death by his wife, Oma Lee Whittington, his mother, Florence Genevieve Canaday Peasley, father, Charles Canaday, step-father, Frank Peasley, half-brother, Roy Peasley and wife Ruth Peasley, two brothers, Gordon Kent Canaday and Charles Homer Canaday. Smiler was graduated from Albany High School, attended Palmer College and Northwest Missouri State Teachers College where he was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He then went on to Gashland, Missouri to teach in a one room country school and later, elementary school teacher and principal in Gashland. On June 5, 1937, he married Oma Lee and from this union a daughter Pamela Canaday Word Searcy of Bellevue, Nebraska was born. Ron served in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. After returning home, he became involved in the Roofing Products business as Sales and Plant Manager in Texas then Memphis, Tennessee and Alabama. He retired as Division Sales Manager of TAMKO Asphalt Company in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1977, and then moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to be with Pam and her family. While living in Lubbock, Texas, Ron, Oma Lee and Pam were charter members of the Lubbock View Christian Church, Disciples of Christ and active members of the First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ on Boulder Street in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His activities were many: a member of Masonic Lodge and Shriner, avid reader and golfer with “three” holes in one, card games, traveling, plus volunteered duties and many friendships. Survivors include his daughter, Pamela Searcy and son-in-law, Ronald Searcy of Albany, MO and Bellevue, NE; two grandsons, Scott Canaday Word and wife Wendy of Manhattan Beach, CA and James Bradley Word, Encino, CA; three great-grandchildren, Alec, Jonathan and Kylie Word of CA; sister-in-law, Mrs. Gordon Canaday, Beaverton, OR; several nieces and nephews and extended family, Gordon, Jane (Searcy) Hannah and Hunter Parry, Omaha, NE; John, Jill (Searcy) Morgan and Parker Grundy, Gilbert, AZ. Memorial Service: 1:30 PM Saturday, November 17 at the Roberson-Polley Chapel, Albany, Missouri. A celebration of life will follow the memorial service at the Albany Country Club. Memorial Contributions-Albany First Christian Church, Albany Country Club, Albany Carnegie Library, Albany Senior Center or a charity of the donor’s choice in care of the Roberson-Polley Chapel, 403 N. Hundley, Albany, MO 64402. Online Condolences: www.robersonpolleychapel.com This obituary was published in the Tulsa World on 11/14/2012.
