CLEARLAKE OAKS — A memorial service celebrating the life and accomplishments of Pastor Ruth Canady will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11 at the Thornton-Canady Youth and Community Center, located on The Plaza in Clearlake Oaks. The event will celebrate the numerous contributions Canady and her husband Pastor Bill Thornton had made to the community.
Canady and Thornton had served as pastors of the Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church since 1998. Following Thornton”s passing a few years ago, Canady had continued in fulfilling the visions the two had held for the community.
“This place has grown in both its sense of community and its beauty,” said John Pavoni, who described himself as a grateful member of the church. “They helped restore pride in our community and their positive impact helped attract the attention of the county with support financially and in spirit.”
The public is invited to join in Saturday”s celebration, which is expected to include representation by the pastors” family. Members of the community will be invited to share their own memories and recall how Canady and her husband had made an impact on the residents of Clearlake Oaks.
“They left an impact on our community, church members, the youth, business persons,” Pavoni said. “Their involvement set in motion a change that only they envisioned for Clearlake Oaks. Their vision has been met by the community at-large and there are many people working to continue their vision with projects such as Lil” Acorns Preschool, youth drop-in center in cooperation with LCCAA and senior projects in cooperation with Live Oak Senior Center, located on The Plaza.”
Pavoni said the congregation at the Clearlake Oaks Community United Methodist Church is reminded of the couple”s vision each week. “We have these ten goals that Ruth and Bill had set for our community,” Pavoni said. “Those goals were the basis of establishing the mission of the church and they are shared every Sunday on the back of the church bulletin.”
Pavoni said goals include endeavors such as improving senior housing, uniting community organizations and basically enhancing the overall quality of life for people in the community. A senior housing project is currently in the works. The project enlists the partnership of Eskaton, a nonprofit organization focusing on senior living services. “We”re expecting to begin construction near Lake Street and Highway 20 this fall. We”re in the paper process right now,” Pavoni said.
Pavoni said that Canady and Thornton wanted to foster community unity among service organizations and businesses to build a safer, nicer place to live with a better atmosphere and environment. They wanted Clearlake Oaks to be a good place to raise children, Pavoni said, adding they wished for a place to foster spiritual guidance as well.
“They wanted to provide a safe place for all members of the community to worship together as a family and help each other both physically and spiritually,” Pavoni said, “giving people a chance to create their own spiritual path.”
According to Pavoni, Canady and her husband were quite influential in all their endeavors. “When Pastor Ruth walked into a room you felt a different life come into the room. This woman had a gift,” he said, “and so did Bill. He had a way to inspire people.”
For more information regarding Saturday”s memorial, call 998-9435 or 245-9100.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
