M.J. (Jearl) Canafax
M.J. (Jearl) Canafax, entered his heavenly home on Sept. 19, 2014. He was born in Abilene, Texas on Aug. 28, 1919 to Robert Fleet and Vera Doss Canafax. He spent his childhood on his parent’s farm in the Vernon area and was in the first graduating class of Northside High School in 1937.
In 1943, before entering the Air Force, he married Mozelle Lacey of Vernon. During WWII, he served as a flight mechanic in Sudberry Sussex, England until November 1945. On returning home to his family, he worked for various auto dealerships in Vernon, Burkburnett and Wichita Falls as a parts manager until 1961. That is when he began working independently with Texaco and eventually opened a service station on Southwest Parkway and Fairway. The 1979 tornado forced an early retirement and he began contracting as a carpenter until 1999 when he finally began full retirement.
Jearl was an avid hunter and fisherman participating frequently in bass tournaments throughout the state. The last years of his life, he truly enjoyed spending time with his family especially his grandkids and great-grandkids.
Jearl is preceded in death by his parents, Fleet and Vera; sisters, Opal Crouch Schanzenback and Ninnie Lee Boen; brother, Freeman “Son” Canafax; first wife, Mozelle Canafax; son, Allen Canafax, and step-son, Donny Luedtke.
He is survived by his wife of 26 years, Beryl, who now resides in Lubbock; sister, Geneva King of Round Rock; daughter, Carolyn Elmore and her husband Phil of Sunnyvale; son, Bruce Canafax and his wife Faye of Wichita Falls; daughter-in-law, Diane Canafax of Wichita Falls; step-son, Butch Luedtke and his wife Tam of Abilene; step-daughter, Jenny Wall and her husband James of Lubbock; grandchildren, Tim St. Clair of McKinney, Sean St. Clair and his wife Lynda of Round Rock, Lacey Newman and her husband Chad of Longview, Adam Canafax of Wichita Falls, Cody Canafax and his wife Lauren of Dallas, Josh Canafax and his wife Jordan of Dallas; Zac Canafax of Wichita Falls; four step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; eight step-great grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews too numerous to mention.
Visitation will be Monday Sept 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 10 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014 at Owens and Brumley Funeral Home with Charlie Thomason of Faith Village Church of Christ, officiating. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. in Vernon at Eastview Cemetery under the direction of Owens & Brumley Funeral Home of Wichita Falls.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Wichita Falls or Christian Care Hospice of Mesquite.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.owensandbrumley.com.
