Ovie Canady, 51, of Middlesboro, departed this life suddenly on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the Pineville Community Hospital. He was born on July 22, 1974, in Harlan County. He was a 1992 graduate of Evarts High School and had been a member of the 1991 undefeated EHS Football Team. After high school, Ovie attended Union College, where he earned his Rank 1 Certification in the Class of 1996. Later, he began teaching, and his career led him back home to EHS. While he attended Union, Ovie met and began dating Brandy Flanary. They were married on July 12, 1997, and began their life together. He was the former head coach of the Evarts High School football team and had the honor of being the final coach when the school was consolidated. The following school year was the opening year of the Harlan County High School, and Ovie was appointed Defensive coach of the Harlan County Black Bears football team. Later, he would coach the Perry Central Football team for two years as head coach and an additional three years as defensive coach. During this time, he was able to coach his son Noah. More recently, Ovie organized the Bell County High School Wrestling Program and served as coach to his son, Hayden.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Loretta Fields and Pearl Howard, and a brother, Jackie Canady.
Survivors include his wife, Brandy Flanary Canady, Middlesboro; two sons, Noah Canady, Knoxville; and Hayden Canady Middlesboro; two sisters, Kathy Turner and Brenda Ghram, both of Harlan; his mother-in-law, Etta Flanary; his father-in-law, James Flanary; a brother-in-law, Shane (Megan) Flanary; a niece, Mikayla Canady; a nephew, Salem Flanary; and a host of other family and friends.
Visitation will be held Friday, July 3, 2026, from 12 noon until the funeral hour at the Evarts Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin in the chapel at 3 pm with the Reverend Robert Amundsen officiating.
Burial will follow in the Evarts Memorial Gardens with his son, Hayden, and the members of the Bell County Wrestling team serving as pallbearers.
Evarts Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Ovie Canady.Â
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