DELRAY BEACH — Patricia “Pat” Lyng Canning died at home on July 19. She was 93.
Pat Lyng was born Aug. 13, 1928, in Detroit to Robert Emmet Lyng and Emelia Feldmen Lyng. She was the second of five girls and often referred to herself as “the boy,” preferring the outdoors and always helping on the farm.
The family moved to a farm in Ralls County, Missouri, in 1938. She worked on the farm until leaving for college to attend the University of Missouri in Columbia. During the summers Pat worked in camps for kids in Colorado, teaching horseback riding and other sports.
She graduated with a degree in physical education in 1949 from Mizzou and went on to receive a master of science in physical education at the University of Colorado. She taught PE in Shelbyville, Illinois, for two years, before moving to St. Louis, where she continued teaching PE at Ladue School, now known as Reed Elementary, for 17 years.
She married Vince Canning Jr. on Oct. 5, 1968, and moved to Delray Beach, where Vince owned and operated Vince Canning Shoes until retiring in 1994.
While Vince was working in the shoe business, Pat became a full-time volunteer. She loved the children at the Achievement Centers for Children and Families and taught PE for many years from the time it opened in Delray Beach.
Always sport-minded, Pat and Vince enjoyed golf, hiking and canoeing. They famously took many nieces and nephews on canoe camping trips to the Canadian Boundary Waters in northern Minnesota and enjoyed the fall season hiking Acadia National Park year after year.
A nature lover, Pat recognized nearly every Florida bird and native animal by sight and sound and led lively tours at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge for years, encouraging her groups to observe both plants and birds for “twice the joy.”
She enjoyed birdwatching around the world and was a member of the Royal Palm Audubon Society, regularly taking to the shore for the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. She was honored for 5,000 hours of volunteer work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Mrs. Canning was instrumental in the formation of Atlantic Dunes Park on A1A, held many offices in the Delray Beach Garden Club, including five terms as president, served eight years on Delray’s beautification task force and served on the Delray Beach Library Board.
Pat and Vince dearly loved their town and volunteered for several events, most notable helping to build the 100-foot Christmas tree.
The couple gave time and treasure at the Caridad Center, were faithful members of St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church and enjoyed daily beach walks. Pat will always be remembered on Nassau Street for her homemade sourdough bread and by friends and family alike for her hospitality at her “Nassau Inn.”
Preceding her in death were her husband, Vince Canning; their infant daughter, Karen; her parents; and three of her sisters, Betty Lyng, Peggy (Lyng) Jones and Kathleen (Lyng) Epperson. She is survived by one sister, Jane Coose of Troy, Missouri, and many nieces, nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews.
A private family celebration of her life will be held at a later date.
— Obituary submitted by the family
Comments
Pat was a wonderful person and will be sorely missed!
She was the reason I became a birder and, later -- after she retired from volunteering at Loxahatchee NWR -- became a walk leader.
She and Vince lived right around the corner from me in Delray and I would stop by every now and then when I was south for the winter (I am a snowbird). But that was when she was still able to have company.
So long dear friend. I will never forget you!
Rick Schofield