Palestine High School Alumni Association

07 / 02 / 1923  –  11 / 01 / 2008

Mary Helen Smith Woodard Canady was called home to be with her Lord on November 1, 2008. She passed away at Cartmell Home for Aged.

Helen (also known to friends and family as “Butch” or “Aunt Butch”) was born in Jacksonville, Texas on July 2, 1923, daughter of the late John Douglas and Thelma Thompson Smith.

She was Salutatorian of the 1941 graduating class of Palestine High School. She went on to attend and later teach at Nixon Business College in Palestine.

She retired after 35 years of service from the CPA firm of Harrell, Rader, Bonner and Bolton. Helen was a charter member of the Altrusa Club of Anderson County and a member of Grace United Methodist Church.

Helen is preceded in death by her parents; husband Steve C. Woodard; husband Ennis R. Canady; sisters Linda Kay Myers, Lillian McKay and Faye Whitaker and a brother Joe Douglas Smith.

She is survived by sisters-in-law Mary Elizabeth Handorf Kennedy of Palestine and Peggy Smith of Terrell; nieces Sherry Handorf Morse, Donna Odom, Glennell Handorf Rials, Carolyn Sheridan, and Debbie Smith Wacha; nephews Dale Boyd Handorf, Lloyd Handorf, Jr., James Smith and Stanley Smith, as well as many great nieces, great nephews, great great nieces, and great great nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jarod Brown, Dale Handorf, Lloyd Handorf, Jr., Jacob Smith, Jeremy Smith and Stanley Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Garland Bankstone, Jr., David Dial, James Smith and Steve Wacha.

Condolence calls will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bailey and Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Bailey and Foster Chapel with Dr. Thomas Haygood, pastor of Grace United Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will follow in Palestine City Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Bailey and Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 11-03-2008