June Carter Canavesio
(1931 – 2024)
June Carter Canavesio was born June 12, 1931, to W.W. and Ruby Cates Carter in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, and passed into her eternal rest and reward on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Bethany, Oklahoma at the age of 92 years and nine months. She was raised in Virginia. Early on, she was taught to have a deep devotion to God and the Church. She was born again before her sixth birthday and baptized with the Holy Spirit when she was ten years old. She lived her entire life devoted to Christ.
June earned an AA Degree from Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, GA), a BA Degree from Roanoke College (VA), and completed postgraduate work at the University of North Carolina. While teaching at Emmanuel College, during a campus prayer meeting, June received a distinct, definite call to be a missionary to Spanish-speaking people.
Beginning when she was 23 years old and single, her missionary career included assignments in Texas/Mexico as co-founder and director of the Berea Bible Institute, teaching in Monterey, Mexico, and later in Argentina and Costa Rica. She established and directed CURSUM (Advanced Ministerial Training Program for Latin America).
June married Elvio Canavesio on May 14, 1988. They moved to Miami, Florida, where she continued to direct CURSUM until her retirement in 1999. After their retirement, Elvio and June moved to South Carolina and became directors of the South Carolina Conference Hispanic Ministries, establishing 12 new Hispanic churches in 12 years. They moved to Oklahoma City in 2013.
She assisted Elvio in writing and publishing, Lord, How Did You Do It? – a history of his call and missionary service. On the day of her passing, she was delivered the first copy of her own book, Joyfully Committed – a true missionary story of God’s grace to a young lady through adventures, trials, and triumphs. It, too, is a historical account of her life of dedicated service to God and the IPHC, and is dedicated to “The Awakening” (youth mission program of the IPHC).
June was preceded in death by her parents; two sisters, Reva Kesling and Frances Carter; her beloved husband, Elvio; and son-in-law, Danny Nix. She is survived by her daughter, Esther Nix; son, David Canavesio (Jenee); four grandchildren, Bryan Nix (Whitney), Seth Nix (Madeline), Emily Canavesio Herron (Kitt) and Andrew Canavesio; three great-grandchildren, Galia and Elizabeth Nix and Gia Herron; and several other relatives and a host of friends, including many Spanish-speaking Christians who were impacted by her missionary and teaching ministry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be sent to The Awakening, project #91495P, at give.iphc.org/project/awakening-base-midwest-ministry, or sent to World Missions, PO Box 270420, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73137.
When asked what she wanted inscribed on her headstone, June simply replied “A missionary to the Spanish People.”
Visitation for June will be held on Friday, March 15, 2024, from 1 – 8 p.m. at Buchanan Funeral Service, 8712 N Council Rd. Oklahoma City, OK 73132. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Passion Church, 3301 N Council Rd. Bethany, OK 73008.
– Obituary provided by Buchanan Funeral Service.
***An additional service will also be held in Virginia, where June’s body will be laid to rest. On Thursday, March 21, at 2 p.m., a funeral service will be conducted at Mullins Funeral Home located at 120 West Main St. Radford, VA 2414, with a graveside service to follow at the IPHC Appalachian Conference Campgrounds located at 5847 Oak Grove Avenue Dublin, VA 24084.
A Note from World Missions Ministries
On behalf of the International Pentecostal Holiness Church World Missions Ministries family, we celebrate and honor the life and legacy of June Carter Canavesio, whose impact will not soon be forgotten.
June and her late husband Elvio faithfully served as IPHC missionaries across Latin and South America where they pioneered numerous, lasting ministries. She began her 45-year-long missionary career as a single, 23-year-old woman in Mexico in 1954 where she founded Berea Bible Institute and continued to serve as its director for six years before moving to Argentina where she served for five years and directed the Bible School there for two. Then, in 1978, June was named the coordinator of Bible Schools and the Theological Education by Extension (T.E.E.) program in Latin America. In 1985 she founded CURSUM, the Advanced Ministerial Training Program for Latin America, and continued to serve as its director until she retired alongside her husband in 1999.
June and Elvio met while both active in the ministry in Latin America and married in 1988. An effective, powerful minister in her singleness, her impact only broadened in marriage. During June’s ministry, both single and in marriage, she witnessed thousands saved by the Gospel of Jesus and hundreds of churches planted. She helped disciple and equip countless ministers through various Bible Schools, many of whom are still active across Latin America today and remember her impact on their lives.
IPHC General Superintendent, Bishop A.D. Beacham remarked, “June Carter Canavesio has joined the ranks of faithful servants of Jesus who have run their course. Recently, I had the privilege of writing an endorsement for her soon-to-be-published autobiography. I considered that book to be a significant, historical testimony of life as a missionary. Her passing just adds to the impact of that book as one who, in the words of Hebrews 11:4, “being dead, yet speaketh” (KJV). The daughter of the late Rev. W.W. and Ruby Carter, and widow of the late Rev. Elvio Canavesio, she came from a family that was, and is, a vital part of IPHC history and future. Susan and I are grateful for the privilege we had to know this inspiring servant of Christ.”
World Missions Ministries Executive Director J. Talmadge Gardner shares, “Mrs. June’s legacy as a missionary, educator, teacher, preacher, visionary, and administrator is legendary in the IPHC. Her passion for training and preparing men and women for ministry service was evident, especially across Latin and South America. As just one example, CURSUM, which she directed for thirteen years, and which trained 1,380 pastors and leaders during her tenure, continues to offer this advanced training to an increasing number of ministers in our four Latin America Regions today. When I think of women missionaries I have known and whom God has used powerfully, this Godly, saintly lady must be included in this listing along with names like Mrs. Marguerite Howard, Ms. Fannie Lowe, Mrs. Charlene West, Ms. Anne Lyons, Mrs. Judith Perez, and Mrs. Maxine Lopez. Missionary heroines like Mrs. Canavesio have also inspired a new generation of young missionaries. I am praying they too will become joyfully committed as June so well displayed through her life.”
World Missions extends deep condolences to June’s family. May the Comforter be ever-present at this time of sorrow.
On behalf of IPHC’s World Missions family,
World Missions Communications Office
