Sara Beth Canaday

Sara Beth Canaday, 77, passed away April 27, 2018, in Ithaca, New York, surrounded by family and friends after a year-long battle with cancer.

She was born at home in Carrollton, Missouri, on August 23, 1940, the daughter of Carrol Andrew Tyhurst and Janice Emmett Tyhurst and graduated from Carrollton High School in 1958. Sara Beth then attended Christian College in Columbia, Missouri, from 1958-1960 receiving an Associate of Arts degree. She moved on to University of Missouri in Columbia from 1960-1962 receiving her Bachelors of Science in Elementary Education. While at Mizzou she was a member Omicron Chapter of Alpha Phi Sorority.

In 1962, she married Richard P. Canaday and taught elementary school. She gave birth to Susan Elizabeth in 1963 and John Andrew in 1964. They lived in Higginsville, Columbia and Fulton, Missouri, until 1969. While living in Columbia she also worked for the University of Missouri Admissions Office. The family then moved to New York in 1969 where she obtained her New York State Realtor’s license. After a short return to Missouri she moved back to New York finally landing in Ithaca in 1984 where she worked for Cornell University Real Estate Department. She also worked with Alpha Phi chapters as an alumna serving on house corporation boards and as a district representative.

It was in Ithaca Sara Beth met her gentleman friend (“I don’t have boyfriends at my age”), Rabbi Dr. Norman Turkish. She was instrumental in the development of the Center for Jewish Living at Cornell with Norman. Together they traveled the world on cruises and tours. Sara Beth even rode camels in Egypt and an ostrich in South Africa. They traveled often to New York City for many shows, concerts and ballets. She passed the love for this on to her children and grandchildren.

Sara Beth loved learning about her heritage and was a member of the Carrollton, Missouri chapter of DAR and was affiliated with the local chapter in Ithaca, NY. She was an avid reader, shared books and always had something to read in her bag. She also loved her historic home, returning the house on Fall Creek Drive to near the original state when first built for Davy Hoy back in 1903.

Sara Beth is survived by children, Susan (Philip) Canaday Krippner, Tooele, UT and John Andrew Canaday, Seattle, WA; granddaughters, Katharine Rose Krippner and Charlotte Canaday Krippner of Tooele, UT; sister, Jean Ann (Chuck) Ferguson of Hartsburg, Missouri; special friend and travel companion, Norman Turkish of Ithaca, NY. The family extends a special thank you to her friends Connie, Sylvie and Dayton. Also, thank you to The Bridges for the wonderful care she received.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Thomas Andrew Tyhurst. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society or Susan G Komen. An open house reception honoring Sara Beth will take place on May 12, 2018 from 1-5pm at 225 Fall Creek Drive, Ithaca, NY.