Robert Harold Caneer, age 86, passed away on June 13, 2026, after a short illness. Harold was born in the family home in Scottsboro, Alabama on February 18, 1940, to Mary Elizabeth Enochs Caneer and Ralph Almon Caneer, Sr. He attended Farley Elementary and in 1957 graduated from Huntsville High School.
After earning an Industrial Management degree from Auburn University, Harold worked for Boeing in both Huntsville and New Orleans, Hayes International, Sperry Rand, and he ended his career as a civil servant in the Stinger Project Office at Missile Command.
An adventurer and adrenaline junkie at heart, he enjoyed spelunking, racing dune buggies, parking lot slaloms, flying gliders and prop planes, and domestic and international snow skiing with clubs and close friend groups. Harold loved to travel the world and often left home for months at a time. He instilled the curiosity to seek new adventures in his daughters and grandchildren, and he cherished time with family. He also loved automobiles. Harold owned and operated Hollytree Automotive in Huntsville for a number of years and spent countless hours working on or building from scratch vehicles in his shop at home. In recent years, he particularly enjoyed his involvement with the Antique Car Club.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Rosanna Black Caneer; two daughters, Pamela Caneer Mathis (Rob) of Sandersville, Georgia, and Mary Caneer Guillory (Cory) of Hoover, Alabama; and grandchildren, Anna Mathis O’Kelley (Jacob) of Auburn, Libby Mathis and Kate Mathis of Sandersville, and Abby Guillory and Ryan Guillory of Hoover.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his brother, Ralph Almon Caneer, Jr., and his beloved sister, Virginia Ann Caneer.
Burial at Maple Hill Cemetery will be a private event, and a Celebration of Life will occur at a later date.
Per his wishes, honorary pallbearers include the wives of the longtime New Years friend group: Lucy Gross, Judy Harper, Kay Newton, Dale Rhoades, Lana Smith, and Judy Wilson.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Harold felt very fortunate to have healthy children and grandchildren, and he wanted other families to have the same. Please donate through stjude.org or by mail to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
