Ona Joyce Bentley

Ona Bentley, 80, of Canadian, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023, in Amarillo.

Memorial Services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, May 20, 2023, at the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian with Rev. Mert Cooper, officiating. The burial will be a private family time following the memorial service.  Arrangements are under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.

Ona Joyce Bentley was born May 30, 1942, in Gideon, Missouri to James and Margaret Keach Shelton.  She attended Murray State University finished in 3 years because she wanted to marry her love and high-school sweetheart Randall….her dad wouldn’t let her get married until she graduated college. 

Ona was a classroom teacher for a total of 48 years, only retiring after Randall’s accident.  She taught in Missouri, Arkansas, and Texas (the longest).  The Bentley family moved to Canadian during the summer of 1982 where she taught until 2011. Ona is best known in the teaching community as a fun 2^nd grade teacher with wild colored fingernails, and crazy big earrings.  After Randall passed away, she started working at the Canadian Community Center as the morning receptionist 5am to 8am where she was the bright spot for many working out in the morning.  Ona was a loyal and kind friend and neighbor always lending a hand. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Canadian.

Her kids and grandkids were her life! She was always talking about them, so proud of them all; she loved doing anything with her kids and grandkids.  Ona would do anything to help. She loved hats and always wore one.  Ona loved games shows, cooking channel (although she said she wasn’t a good cook) playing games on her phone, crosswords and visiting with friends.  She loved loved loved working 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles and glued them together.  Ona always had a smile to share.  When Randall was alive, they loved to travel and did so often, usually to see their kids and grandkids or to Red River, NM or a beach somewhere.  She loved keeping up with family and friends on social media… even joining the Snap Chat world to stay connected to her grandkids.  Ona’s favorite saying was “Peace Out”!

Those surviving to celebrate Ona; three children, Randall Millard Bentley Jr. and wife Mia of Monroe, Louisiana, Denita Kay Bentley Landry and husband Landon of Canadian, and Howard Brian Bentley and wife Staci of Amarillo; 8 Grandkids, Randall Millard Bentley III, Allison Elizabeth Bentley, Ryder Michael Bentley, Sawyer Todd Landry, Tucker Todd Landry, Baxter Todd Landry, Beau Howard Bentley, Brian Wayne Bentley; 5 sisters, Jeanie Moore and husband Bruce of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Judy Cossey of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Pam Duffel and husband Jim of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Pat Denton of Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Jamie Penner and husband Jerry of Murray, Kentucky.

Memorials may be made to Share the Love Foundation, 112 Main, Canadian, TX 79014 or Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

In honor of Ona’s love of hats those attending her service are invited to wear a cap or hat.