Shirley Ann Bowlds Vanover, 85, of Owensboro, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024 while under the care of the Heartford House. She was born on December 31, 1938 to the late Leo and Anna Belle Howard Bowlds. She was a homemaker and the mother of her four children by their late father, Raymond E. Canary. She raised them and put them through high school. She then married Melvin C. Vanover and were together for 38 years. She was a member of Nickle Ridge Pentecostal church for 15 years and was a substitute piano player for the church and also could play the tambourine. She was also a member of Little Flock Holiness Church where she played piano as well.
Shirley was preceded in death by three brothers, Martin Leo Bowlds, Martin Cecil Bowlds, and Rodney Bowlds; her late husband, Melvin C. Vanover who passed in 2012; and her son, Allan Canary in January 2024.
Survivors include her two daughters, Becky Jolly (Jay) of Owensboro and Tammy Johnson (Rev. Troy) of Corning, AR; son, Curtis Canary (Stephanie) of Utica, KY; 8 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; three brothers, Virgil Bowlds (Connie) of Owensboro, James ‘Jimbo’ Bowlds (Judy) of Utica and Billy Joe Bowlds (Carolyn Ann) of Utica; and sister, Carolyn Dickens (Ronnie) of Calhoun.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at James H. Davis Funeral Home and Crematory. Burial will follow in Nickel Ridge Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until time of the service at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to Nickel Ridge Cemetery Fund, 9950 Highway 815, Utica, KY 42376.