James “Hobo” Canard of Newport, Arkansas, departed this life on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at 63. He was born June 27, 1959, in Newport, the son of James W. and Patsy (Bailey) Canard.
He was a 1977 Tuckerman High School graduate and a licensed electrician who spent 18 years working at the Steel Mill.
He enjoyed watching NASCAR, working in the yard, and building things. He was incredibly proud of his family and loved talking about them and spending time with them.
He was preceded in death by his father, James W. Canard; his step-father, Wallace Pankey; and one sister, Barbara Canard.
He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Tammy (Green) Canard of the home; his mother, Patsy Ruth (Bailey) Pankey of Newport; four sons, Derek Canard and wife, Beth of Jonesboro, Dillon Canard and wife, April, of Pocahontas, Wesley Howard of Jonesboro, and Aric Simmons and wife, Susan of Jonesboro; one daughter, April Stokes and husband, Josh of Newport; one sister, Janice Canard Kendrick; ten grandchildren, Aidan Canard, Rylie Canard, Eryka Garrett, Ben Prevo, Logan Prevo, Maci Canard, Bailey Stokes, Bo Stokes, Madison Howard, and Christopher James; and a lifetime of friends.
Friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Funeral services will follow at Jackson’s Newport Funeral Home Chapel at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, with interment in Watson Cemetery.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Sam Smith, Perry Riley, Kevin Womack, Jason Skelton, David Bagley, and Bryan Maune.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Dierkson Hospice, especially Stacey, Audrey, and Ashley, and Barbara Sweatt Menley, APRN.
