James Kenneth Canerday, of Florence, passed away Wednesday, December 28, 2011. He was 87.
The visitation will be Sunday beginning at 12:00 p.m. at Elkins Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the funeral home chapel. Ellis Coats will officiate. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Tri-Cities Memorial Gardens.
He was a member of the Church of Christ and had retired from Union Carbide Corp. He was a member of the NuTones Band and loved playing music to entertain residents of local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
As an infantryman, he served in the 5th Field Artillery Battalion, 1st Infantry Division and participated in the invasion of Normandy, fought in northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was awarded the Bronze Star.
Kenneth is survived by his wife of 65 years June Gist Canerday; grandsons David Canerday of Kodak, Tennessee and Carmel Canerday of Florence; a sister Louise Ashley of Killen; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son Timothy (Tim) Canerday, his parents Alfred and Carletta Canerday, a brother Willie C. (Bill) Canerday, and a sister Mary Evelyn Canerday.
Pallbearers will be Carmel Canerday, David Canerday, Wesley Willis, Kevin Kilpatrick, Chris Kilpatrick, A.C. Noe, Paden Henderson and James L. Jackson. Honorary bearers will be David Underwood, Merrill Wright, Glenn Tatum, Joe Suazo, and members of the NuTone Band.
The family offers special thanks to Dr. Robert Mann and the staff of Internal Medicine Associates.