Nathaniel Cantly

Nathaniel Cantly, 92, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on Thursday, May 19, 2022.

Nathaniel Cantly was born in Tyler, Smith County, Texas, and the only child of Leonard and Mary Douglas Cantly. His biological parents are Isaiah Thompson and Maylena Choice.

Nathaniel and his wife, Leola Gilliam Cantly grew up together, graduated from high school, and were married in Kilgore, Texas. They were married for 65 years.

He served his country in the United States Army from October 8, 1951, to August 6, 1953. Brother Cantly received the Korean Service Medal with four (4) bronze stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the 2019 Korean War Veteran Ambassador for Peace Medal.

He attended the Tuskegee Institute for Veterinary Science at the age of sixteen. Brother Cantly received a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry from Texas College, a Bachelor of Science Degree in chemistry from West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M University, and an associate degree from Amarillo College at the age of eighty.

Nathaniel Cantly was employed with Southwestern Public Service Company (SPS), now Xcel Energy as the first African American analytical chemist at Nichols Station, System Lab, for twenty-seven years. He was also president and chief chemist for his chemical consulting company, CHEMFAC.

He has served the Amarillo community since the 1960’s. He was a member of North Heights Church of Christ and the minister for fifty years. He was a life member of the NAACP Amarillo Branch and served as president during the early to mid-1970’s.

Brother Cantly was preceded in death by his parents, and biological parents, his wife, a daughter, Chandra Kay Cantly, a son, Ronald Edward Cantly, and his brother-in-law, M. T. Gilliam.

He leaves to cherish his memory, two daughters, Nathalie Cantly and Kimberly Cantly Stewart, three sons, Reginald Cantly, Stanley Cantly, and Leonard Cantly, twenty-four grandchildren, thirty-seven great-grandchildren, two great-great-great-grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Please sign the On-Line Guest Book, and view Brother Nathaniel Cantly’s full obituary at www.warfordmortuary.com