J. M. Canley; Retired Chemical Company Worker

Retired chemical company worker J. M. Canley of Oxnard died Monday. He was 83.

Canley was born Nov. 27, 1914, in Marion, La. He moved from Louisiana to El Dorado, Ark., where he worked in the maintenance and engineering divisions of Monsanto Chemical Co. for more than 26 years.

While living in Arkansas, Canley joined the Army and served for several months in World War II, his family said.

In 1976, Canley and his wife moved from Arkansas to Santa Barbara to live with one of their two daughters and to seek medical attention for one of their five sons, Canley’s family said.

In 1984, Canley relocated with a daughter and son-in-law to Oxnard, according to family members.

Canley was an avid reader of the Bible, and enjoyed newspapers and reading about sports, said one of his daughters, Annie Davis of Oxnard.

Canley also enjoyed vegetable gardening, she said.

Before moving to California, Canley was active in the Baptist church in Arkansas, Davis said.

“He was real quiet but he would talk about the past. His memory was good,” David said.

Canley was preceded in death in 1977 by his wife, Leola.

In addition to Davis, Canley is survived by daughter Mary Sue Mohammad of Lompoc and sons L. J. Canley and Paul Canley, both of Tacoma, Wash.; Lawrence Canley and Hilton Canley, both of Oxnard, and Johnny Canley of Culver City. He also is survived by brothers L. V. Canley of Santa Barbara, Willie Canley of Tacoma, and Malvin Canley, Warner Canley and Elgin Canley, all of Crossett, Ark.; sisters Gurdy Ross, Nova Lovett and Ruby Robinson of El Dorado, Ark.; Sula Carson of Oakland and Earlene Hawkins of Tacoma; 21 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a funeral at 1 p.m. Monday at the James A. Reardon Chapel in Oxnard. Pastor J. B. Ficklin will officiate. Burial will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura.