BILLY RAY CANADY, SR.
June 17, 1932 — January 19, 2009
BILLY RAY "BIG DADDY" CANADY, SR., resident of Canady Way near the Oakland Community, retired General Superintendent for Lehman-Roberts Co., U.S. Air Force Veteran and husband of Peggy Canady died at 7:25 P.M. Monday, January 19, 2009 at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for two weeks. He was 76 years of age and died following a year-long extended illness.
Funeral services for Mr. Canady were conducted at 3 P.M. Thursday, January 22nd at Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Rev. Jim Madden, Pastor of the Kirk Baptist Church in Fayette County, officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes-West Chapel of Oakland.
Mr. Canady was born June 17, 1932, in Marvell, Arkansas, the son of the late Clayton Canady and the late Evelyn Lenox Canady. He attended Marvell schools and moved to Memphis at an early age with his family where he attended Treadwell High School and was an outstanding athlete playing both football and basketball.
He was married January 31, 1953 to the former Peggy Vickers of Valdosta, Georgia who survives. Mr. Canady served in the United States Air Force as a young person and was involved in Asphalt Construction for much of his life. He was employed as a General Superintendent for the Lehman-Roberts Company before his retirement fourteen years ago.
Mr. Canady was a former resident of Memphis and had lived in Fayette County for the past thirty-two years. He was of the Baptist Faith and will be remembered for his love of out-of-door activities that included hunting, nature and vacationing with his family in the mountains.
Known for his delightful sense of humor, he was a family-oriented person who received much enjoyment from his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife of fifty-five years, Mr. Canady leaves two daughters, Vicky Benson (George) of Hickory Withe and Belinda Canady-Markle (Terry) of Macon; two sons, Billy Ray Canady, Jr. (Terrye) of Oakland and Clay Canady (Barbara) of Oakland; two sisters, Bobbie McHale of Navasota, TX and Kay Harber of Bartlett; nine grandchildren: Christopher Benson, Farrah Anderson, Brandy Kirkpatrick, Billy Canady, III, Lori Avanzi, Erin Canady, Brittany Canady, Paige Campbell and Clayton Canady, Jr. and six great-grandchildren: Zach Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Kaleb Kirkpatrick, Kooper Kirkpatrick, Aliyah Avanzi and Kaden Thearp.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Wayne Canady.
Those honored to serve as casket bearers were Brett Anderson, Matt Avanzi, Christopher Benson, Billy Canady, III, Clayton Canady, Jr., Johnny Canady, Wayne Canady and Kyle Kirkpatrick.
The family request that Memorials be directed to the Baptist Trinity Hospice, 6141 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis, TN 38120, Phone: (901) 767-6767.