John Cannady

John Cannady, 57, of Oliver, Illinois, died on August 20, 2026, in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his family, following a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Born on April 2, 1969, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Loren and Carol (Ryerson) Cannady, John grew up in Marshall, Illinois, and graduated from Marshall High School in 1988. From an early age, John had the kind of outgoing personality that made it easy for him to strike up a conversation with just about anyone. He was talkative, friendly, and rarely met a stranger, qualities that served him well throughout a working life that took him in many different directions.

John spent time working as a car salesman at King's Auto, and as it turned out, one particular sale would change the course of his life. Teresa Catterson came in to buy a car, and John sold her one-but somewhere along the way, he also won her heart. The two were married on August 5, 2000, beginning a life together filled with family, adventures, and plenty of stories.

Over the years, John was never afraid to try something new. He owned a horse tack shop, ran a grocery store, helped operate his parents' furniture store, and spent time transporting campers. Most recently, he was the owner of Illinois 1 Salvage Store. Whatever the job, John brought his personality with him. He knew how to talk to people, enjoyed getting to know them, and had a natural ability for sales.

Away from work, horses were a longtime part of John's life. He enjoyed riding and looked forward to weekend trail rides. His love for horses also showed through his willingness to rescue those that needed a home and give them another chance.

John had a deep interest in genealogy and could spend hours researching his family's history. For him, it was about more than names and dates. His research often took him to cemeteries, where he would find old family stones and take the time to straighten or repair them when he could. It was his way of caring for the people and stories that came before him and making sure they were not forgotten.

As much as John enjoyed his many interests, family was at the center of his life. He loved family dinners and was happiest when everyone was gathered together. John also loved to cook, though portion control was never one of his strengths. If John was cooking, there was going to be plenty-and usually more than enough. He enjoyed baking as well.

His grandchildren held an especially big place in his heart, and spoiling them came naturally. He loved spending time with them in the garden, teaching them, laughing with them, and simply enjoying having them nearby. He was also always ready for an adventure. John loved taking off with Teresa and the kids on a whim, with little planning and the belief that they would figure things out along the way. Those trips became part of the memories his family will carry with them.

A good cup of coffee was another of life's simple pleasures for John, especially when there was someone nearby to visit with. He was patriotic, firm in his political beliefs, and never shy about where he stood. He was a strong supporter of President Donald Trump and deeply loved his country.

Those who knew John knew he could be stubborn and hard-headed, but they also knew the big heart behind it. He was determined, outgoing, loving, caring, and always willing to help someone who needed it. John was a man of strong beliefs and, above all, a man of God. His faith mattered deeply to him and remained an important part of who he was throughout his life.

John is survived by his wife, Teresa Cannady; his parents, Loren and Carol (Ryerson) Cannady; his children, Haley Cannady, Shayna (Devin Vice) Cannady, and Kayla (Jacob) Ryan; his grandchildren, Charlotte Cannady, Sara Ryan, Olivia Ryan, Della Vice, and Deja Vice, with another grandchild on the way; his sister, Patty (Jeff Clingenpeel) Zerrusen; his nephews, Austin (Charissa) Zerrusen and Justin (Andrea Ward) Zerrusen; his nieces, Brandie Johnson and Jessica Warfel; as well as several great-nieces and great-nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Michael Boyce; his maternal grandparents, Byron and Sarah Ryerson, and his paternal grandparents, Leon and June Cannady.

A time of visitation will be held from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 26th, at Prust-Hosch Funeral Home in West Union. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 27th, at West York Community Bible Church. Burial will follow in Bradbury Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to John's memorial fund, with checks made payable to Goodwine Funeral Homes. Memorials may also be made online at www.goodwinefuneralhomes.com/payments.