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Michael Anderson Canaday 1964-2020

NEGLEY — Michael Anderson Canaday, 56, met his maker suddenly, Thursday, April 30, 2020. He suffered a heart attack while relaxing contentedly at home after work with his Melody and his puppy, Willow.

Mike, a dynamic character, lived life to the hilt, pedal to the metal. Countless friends tell stories of his meaningful impact on their lives: he talked them through their anguish, visited them in the hospital, rushed to the scene of the crashes, took the rap, paid ahead for their fast food order in the drive-thru line; and of course, strove for everyone to have a good time.

Mike admired Jesus and wanted to walk with him.

Michael is survived by his best friend, Melody Gustafson; brother, David H. Canaday, M.D. (Kathryn) and nephews, Jack Canaday and Will Canaday; Aunt Cookie Anderson, cousin James Rex Anderson (Chastidy), and their children — who lovingly called him Uncle Michael — Jessica Anderson-Kimberlin (James) and Jedidiah Rees Anderson, and Jessica’s son, Brantley Kimberlin; cousin, Jeannie Brown (John Gentry) and Jeannie’s daughter, Gretchen Horner; ex-wife, Lynn Canaday, in-laws, Joe and Joann Santha, ex-brother-in-law, Joey Santha and nephew Cade; girlfriend’s parents, Rob and Gloria Gustafson; Aunt Jenny Kenetz and her daughter, Felicity Gustafson, who was close with Mike; Aunt Melissa and Uncle Terry Ricciardi; girlfriend’s sister, Amanda Smith (Jaime), and their children, Kaitlyn, Beau, Allison, and Ty Smith; cousins Jeffy Flint, Andy Flint (Shannon) and son, William; Ben Flint (Alyssa) and family; puppy, Willow; and more friends than can possibly be mentioned here.

Some loved ones preceded him in death: his father, Dr. Jean Hinman Canaday and mother, Ann Anderson Canaday; Uncle Mike Anderson; Grandpa Rex Anderson and Grammy Mabel Louise Anderson; Grandma Aimee Hinman Canaday; dog, Zoe; and many friends.

Mike graduated from Boardman High School in 1983, where he played trumpet in marching band and completed some college at Kent State University’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Mike boasted a versatile work life. He worked seven years as intake inspector at R & M Fluid Power, Inc., Youngstown, a hydraulic cylinder machine shop. He assisted Dr. O in Lasik eye surgeries and exams for nine years. Before that, he assisted his father, pathologist Dr. Jean Canaday, performing autopsies and preparing slides at Cafaro Hospital. He also cared for his mother during her final illness.

He also had a scholarly interest in ecclesiastical history and spent hours reading the prophecies of Josephus, Dead Sea Scrolls, the Bible, and the scholarship of Robert Eisenman. Whenever he took an interest, he researched it extensively, such as the Samurai and Shogun. He admired bladesmithing, World War II weaponry and American paintings. He collected and traded Japanese swords, knives, fossils, meteorites and art. In particular, he sought Wyeth and Burchfield paintings.

He loved to travel, eat out and celebrate. He showed Melody places she had never seen — Siesta Key, Washington, D.C., Smokey Mountains — and got her through the fear of flying. He kept losing his prescription sunglasses by running into the ocean, forgetting to take them off. He liked football: Mike rooted for the Miami Dolphins and the Cleveland Browns and in the past, he and Lynn threw Super Bowl parties every year.

He collaborated with others on “Jammin’ for Joel,” a charity concert festival to benefit a longtime friend who was dying of leukemia. The proceeds helped Joel’s widow and children in the wake of his passing.

Mike loved tattoos and had a talent for riding motorcycles, but claimed he saw a vision of Jesus while going ungodly fast one day. He parked that Kawasaki and never rode again.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, we cannot hold a traditional service for Michael; however, he will be buried next to his parents in Forest Cemetery, Fredericktown, Ohio.

In respect to his memory, calm down, take it easy, and do good to one another. Honor him through donation in his name to the American Lung Association, https://www.lung.org/lung-health-diseases/lung-disease-lookup/lung-cancer/learn-about-lung-cancer/ lung-cancer-research, National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (NPCF), P.O. Box 1848, Longmont, CO 80502 or American Cancer Society, cancer.org.

(special notice)