Obituary of Viola K. Canouse

Viola K. Canouse, 88 of Milford, PA passed away, Friday, September 3, 3021 at Delaware Valley Skilled Nursing, Westfall Township, PA. She was born February 23, 1933 to Francis F. and Ethel (Hoover) Kern in Newcomb Hospital, Vineland, NJ. She attended grammar school in Minotola and Richland, NJ and Dingmans Ferry, PA. Viola graduated from Milford High School in 1950 and attended Kutztown State Teacher’s College, majoring in art.

“Vi” married her high school sweetheart, Richard Canouse, on February 23, 1952. When Dick was drafted into the U.S. Army later that year, she traveled to various bases with him including Bad Tolz, Germany. When Dick was discharged, they completed the house they had started to build on Moon Valley Road. They were married almost 50 years when Dick succumbed to a massive coronary in 2001. She helped Dick with radio dispatching for the Milford Fire Department for many years before the Pike County Communications Center was established.

Vi became Milford Township Tax Collector in 1963, serving over 55 years and Milford Township Secretary in 1976, serving over 40 years. She was a member and Secretary of the Milford Township Planning Commission and Milford Township’s representative to the Pike County Council of Governments.

Viola and her husband owned and operated a local summer attraction and resort (was opened in 1949 by her parents) known as Moon Valley Park, from 1965 until 1987. While operating Moon Valley Park they also raised registered Beagles for over 20 years. The business area was sold and became a residential subdivision. They built their new home in the section remaining called Sunset Trail. Later they operated a small craft business named Sunset Meadow Artisans. Vi was associated with the Delaware Township-Dingmans Ferry Historical Society since 1996, painting plaques of various structures in that area as a fund raiser for that organization.

Viola enjoyed reading, letter writing, photography, and genealogy. The latter has been an ongoing project for most of her married life. She also enjoyed bird watching, summer stock theater, hiking, and decorating for the holidays.

Survivors include her daughters, Lorelei K. Davis and her husband Steven P. of Milford, PA, Jacqueline K. Carey and her husband William of Westfield, PA; grandchildren, Daniel G. Davis, Joshua S. Davis, William S. Carey and Kenneth S. Carey and his wife Monica and her stepsister, Jean Coe and her husband Wayne of Oshkosh, WI.

A memorial service will be held and announced at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the Milford Fire Department, PO Box 1369, Milford, PA 18337, the Pike County Library, 119 E Harford St, Milford, PA 18337 and the Pike County Historical Society, 608 Broad Street, Milford, PA 18337.

Arrangements by Stroyan Funeral Home, 405 West Harford St., Milford, PA (www.stroyanfuneralhome.com).