Willa Jean Canary

Willa Jean Canary

Willa Jean Canary, 90, passed away on May 23, 2023. She was born in Joliet, Illinois on December 8, 1932 to William and Dorothy Redden. She had a sister Beverly and brother Billy.
From an early age, Willa knew that she wanted to teach. After high school, she attended Bowling Green State University, earning a BA in Elementary Education in 1954. Upon completing her degree, she moved to California to start her teaching career. In 1955, she met James Canary, a naval officer who had also studied teaching and in 1956 they married. In 1958, Jim accepted a position as a science teacher in Chelan, a beautiful spot he knew from his childhood summers. During the 1950s and 60s, they had three children, bought land and built a house near Lakeside Park.
In 1969, the State of Alaska was looking for teachers to meet the need created by the Pipeline boom. Jim and Willa rented out their house in Chelan and set off driving through Canada to get to Ketchikan in time to start their new jobs - they planned to stay for one year. One year turned into 17. During those 17 years, they raised their children - attending baseball games, swimming tournaments, and band concerts - and built their careers as teachers. While working full-time, Willa took night classes, earning her Masters in Education from the University of Alaska. For Willa, the best part of her job was teaching young children to read – the topic of her thesis. After 17 years of rainy weather, upon retirement, they returned to sunny Chelan. Jim continued commercial fishing in Alaska during the summers, but, when Willa was not playing bridge (she became a Life Master), she created a paradise at her home for her grandkids.
Her kind neighbors, Rita and Don, made it possible for her to remain in her Chelan home for years longer than otherwise possible, but in 2019, she needed more support and she moved to Arizona to be near family. This spring she became ill. After spending time with her children and grandchildren, she passed peacefully from this life knowing that she was loved.
She is survived by her children James Jr., Jon and Jana, grandchildren Aliese, Jacqueline, Tessa and Tristan, and great-grandchildren Hailey and Kendal. Her family plans to gather in Chelan for a private ceremony to celebrate her life.