September 2 1934 May 1 2022
Obituary Pat Ronald Caniff, 87 of Russell, passed away Sunday, May 1, 2022 at Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland. Pat was born September 2, 1934 in Fort Gay, West Virginia to the late Alphonso Sr. and Izzie Lester Caniff. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four brothers Alphonso Caniff Jr., Mike Rollin Caniff, Robert Caniff and Mark Lester Caniff; and one sister Betty Jo Shope. Pat was a 1952 Russell High School graduate, where he was a member of the 1952 undefeated Football team and a member of the track team. After high school, Pat served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and then the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1st Marine Division as a Corpsman. He was honorably discharged in 1956. Pat graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming (now Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science) in 1960 and returned to the Russell area working as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer until 1961. While working, he attended Ashland Community College. In 1962, he established Caniff-Riggs Funeral Home in Westwood, with Eddie L. Riggs. Later, he obtained ownership of the funeral home, renaming it Caniff Funeral Home. Pat was instrumental in the formation of the Westwood Volunteer Fire Department. From the 1960’s to the late 1970’s he ran the ambulance service for Westwood from the funeral home. He not only responded ambulance calls but fire calls as well. Pat has served in multiple offices of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association and was elected President of the Association in 1978. One of his proudest accomplishments was the creation of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Association Scholarship Program. He served as chairman of the program until his death. To date, the program has awarded 48 scholarships and over $123,000 to worthy students who now practice as licensed Funeral Directors and Embalmers in the state of Kentucky. This scholarship now carries the name of the Pat R. Caniff Scholarship Trust. He was an active member of the Kentucky Funeral Directors Burial Association; a member of National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) since 1962; a former NFDA Policy Board Member; and a charter member of Tri-State Livery Service. Pat was also involved with various other civic and fraternal organizations including, 50 plus year member and Past Master of Fred M. Gross Lodge #953 F&AM; 33° Valley of Covington Scottish Rite Mason; Past President of Ashland-Russell Scottish Rite Club; Ashland York Rite (Apperson Chapter #81, Everette Council #65, Ashland Commandry #28); Past Potentate and Life Member of El Hasa Shrine; Royal Order of Scotland Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter; Past Sovereign of St. Barnabas #31 Conclave of Louisville Red Cross of Constantine; Past Director of Big Sandy Court #172 Royal Order of Jesters; a charter member of the Westwood Chapter #569 Order of Eastern Star; Former Member of Westwood Boys Club; Past President and Current Treasurer of Westwood Lions Club; Emeritus Member of Board of Governors Member Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Lexington, Kentucky; a member of the Russell High School Alumni Association Hall of Fame class of 2010 and Russell High School Athletic Hall of fame class of 2016. He was a member and Elder of Community Presbyterian Church of Bellefonte. He leaves behind his loving wife of 53 years Dana Smith Caniff; one son Patrick Jason “P.J.” Caniff of Russell; one daughter Marcia Caniff Davis (George) of Ashland; one granddaughter Olivia Davis; numerous nieces and nephews along with a host of extended family and friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at Caniff Funeral Home in Westwood with Jimm Smedley and Jack Edwards officiating. Burial will follow at Bellefonte Memorial Gardens. Military Honors will be provided by the Kenova American Legion Post #93 and the United States Navy. Visitation will take place at the funeral home on Wednesday from 5 to 9. Masonic services and Scottish Rite services will take place on Wednesday evening beginning at 7:00 PM. Online condolences may be left at canifffuneralhome.com The family will accept flowers or donations in Pat’s memory may be made to the Pat R. Caniff Scholarship Fund C/O Funeral Directors Association of Kentucky P.O. Box 4779 Frankfort, KY 40604-4779 or the Shriners Hospitals for Children Attn: Processing Center PO Box 947765 Atlanta, GA 30394. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pat, please visit our floral store. Read more
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Pat Caniff September 2 1934 May 1 2022.
Death notice for the town of: Westwood, state: Kentucky