Myrna Joyce Canaday Newenham

Myrna Joyce Canaday Newenham (born March 2, 1934) passed peacefully into life eternal on May 17, 2021. Myrna lived a full life, growing up in Johnston City, Illinois as the oldest of six children born to Jerry and Bertha Mae Hard Canaday. She moved to Springfield at the age of 19 years old, in 1953, and began working as a legislative secretary. Myrna was an outstanding singer and performed many solos during church services and was a member of the Springfield Municipal Choir. She began her college years in 1960 culminating with her Ph.D. in Education in 1983. During and following her time in college, she spent many years working for S.I.U. School of Medicine, largely as an administrator for the Department of Psychiatry. She retired from Horace Mann Insurance Company in 1995.

Myrna is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 48 years, Robert L. Newenham; and, her daughter, Joni Rene Newenham Spencer.

Myrna is survived by her daughter Vickie Newenham Storm (Tom) of Brentwood, TN and her son Kirk Newenham (Gayle) of Springfield, IL; five grandchildren, Andrew Alton (Erin) of Cantrall, IL; Jessica Alton of Champaign, IL; Chenell Newenham Rodriguez (Nicholas) of Annapolis, MD; Jason Spencer of Portland, OR; and, Cole Spencer of Divernon, IL; and, three great-grandchildren: Annabella, Olivia, and Lilly Rodriguez.

Myrna is also survived by her 5 siblings: Gerald Canaday (St. Ann, MO), Marcia Canaday Cochran (The Villages, FL), Fred Canaday (Gallatin, TN), Steve Canaday (Marion, IL) and Kathy Canaday Seymour (Jacksonville, IL); as well as many nieces and nephews.

Visitation services will be held on Thursday, May 20 at Staab Funeral Home, 1109 S. 5th Street, Springfield, IL from 1:00pm to 2:30pm. Funeral services will immediately follow.

CDC Protocol shall be followed.

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