Sept. 27, 1916 - Jan. 14, 2013
George Carmody Canney died peacefully, surrounded by family, on Monday, January 14, 2013, at the age of 96. A longtime resident of Bend, George was born to George Chapin and Marie Canney in Seattle, Washington in 1916. George met his wife, Honey when they were 16; they married in 1939. At his death, they had just celebrated their 73 wedding anniversary in October. Their first son, Skipper, died at three days of age. George Frederic, Kathleen Ann, and Margaret Aileen came soon after. George began his career at Sand Point Naval Air Station in Seattle; he also joined the Coast Guard Reserve during WWII, serving as shore patrol along the Seattle docks.
After WWII, George and Honey transferred to the Naval Air Rework Facility in Alameda, California and retired in 1972, after 31 years of service. George was a planner and estimator helping to maintain naval aircraft. Work assignments took him for periods of time to the Aeronautics Bureau in Philadelphia, and to the McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed Aircraft Companies over the years.
George and Honey moved to Bend in 1973, where they built a beautiful home overlooking the Deschutes River and east Bend. Never one to sit idly, George landscaped their home, loved woodworking, drove school bus for the Bend district for seven years, transported skiers for the Silver Streak to Bachelor company, and even drove actors around for two movie companies filming in Bend. George was a volunteer driver for Meals-on-Wheels as well.
In addition to helping others whenever asked, George was an active member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic church; he repaired pews, refinished doors, painted up a storm, sang in the choir, and served as a hospitality minister and a Eucharistic minister at mass. George was a volunteer at St. Charles Regional Medical Center for 31 years, devoting over 6000 hours to visiting patients and supporting hospital staff.
George was an avid golfer and consummate bridge player, and a member of the Bend Golf and Country Club since1971. One of his most coveted accomplishments was scoring his 5th and 6th holes-in-one on October 9, 2001, on the same round (11th and 16th holes). He had the touch when it came to chipping and putting around the greens.
George was preceded in death by his older sister, Mary Hoyt, and younger brother Norm Canney. He leaves his wife of 73 years, Honey, three children, 13 grandchildren, 20 great-children, and three great-great-grandchildren. His funeral mass is this Saturday, January 19th, at 11:00 a.m., at St. Francis of Assisi Historic Catholic Church in downtown Bend, to be followed with a luncheon at Whispering Winds Retirement Community, 2920 N.E. Conners Ave., in the Pilot Butte activity room.
Niswonger-Reynolds is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Please sign guest book online at www.niswonger-reynolds.com
George Canney
