Bonnie Canada

Bonnie Joyce Crawford Canada, who preferred to be called Joyce, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sibling, and friend, passed away Sunday, May 25 at the age of 94 in Tuscaloosa, AL. Joyce was born on September 27, 1930 to Floyd N. Crawford and Nina Moran in Gonzales, Louisiana. She graduated High School in Gonzales and tied for Valedictorian. She was offered a tie breaking test to determine the Valedictorian position, but knowing she was not going to be able to go to college and the other student was, she chose not to do so taking Salutatorian honors instead.

After graduating high school, she went to work in Baton Rouge, LA. She and several of her girlfriends traveled, with a chaperone, to New Orleans, LA for Mardi Gras. As Joyce, her friends, and chaperone walked down Bourbon Street, a group of Army Air Corps soldiers were approaching them. Joyce bumped into one of them, Staff Sergeant Bob J. Canada. Years later, her best friend revealed that she had pushed Joyce into him so they could meet the soldiers. Bob was instantly smitten and spent every chance he could courting Joyce. They were married on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1949, and were together until Bob’s passing on May 19, 2017.

Joyce traveled the world with Bob and their two sons Carl Ritchey Canada, Sr. and Larry Gene Canada living at Air Force bases in Texas (x3), Georgia, Florida, Maine, Alabama, France, Germany, and Holland. When state side, the family always spent time with their respective families in Gonzales and Talladega as family was important to them both. In Europe, Joyce enjoyed seeing Paris, the tulip fields in Holland, and shopping for antique furniture and Hummels. There wasn’t a weekend that passed while the family was in Europe that they didn’t visit a new castle, battleground, palace, or landmark - except when her boys had a scouting event or baseball game.

Joyce was passionate about learning, reading, history, and exploring. Her dedication and work ethic has shown through in all that she did. From her famed gardens and award-winning roses and chocolate chip cookies to her career working her way up from a bank teller to the president of the Craig Credit Union, Joyce found joy in creation and always strove to make things a little bit better.

Joyce loved her friends and found fellowship in her church, Elkdale Baptist Church, and the Selma Emblem Club. She and her husband Bob tried to make the world a better place through their volunteer work and the love and support they gave to all those around them. While she had that calm caring side, she could get Bob and Larry to do things, often the right things, that others could not with a simple assertive word.

Joyce deeply loved and is deeply loved by her family. She and Bob sacrificed to help their loved ones have a better life. They were always supported those they loved in any way they could.

Joyce is preceded in death by her parents Floyd N. Crawford and Nina Moran; her brothers, Hollis Crawford, Virgil Crawford, Wendell Crawford, Sr., and James “Chunk” Crawford; her husband, Bob J. Canada; son, Carl Ritchey Canada, Sr., and grandson Carl Ritchey Canada, Jr. Joyce is survived by her brother, Gordon Crawford; her son Larry G. Canada (Cynthia); her grandchildren, Carmen Schmotzer (Steve), John Canada, and Emily Canada; her great grandchildren Carl R. Canada, III (Miranda), Caitlyn Canada, Charlie Canada (Madison), Nathan Schmotzer, Evan Schmotzer and Aaron Schmotzer; her great-great granddaughter, Charlotte Canada and many nieces and nephews.

A visitation for Bonnie will be held Friday, May 30, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Sunset Funeral Home, 3802 Watermelon Road, Northport, AL 35473, followed by a Celebration of Life at 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate to Hospice of West Alabama or your local church in her name.