Christmas 2008

Christmas 2008 is almost here, this will be our first Christmas without Gary. It will be hard, we always spent Christmas with Gary and his family. It will be a bleak Christmas for us. I was getting the Christmas lights out to decorate the outside of the house and Helen said to me, “don’t bother I just don’t feel like even decorating this Christmas“ I just put a small lighted wreath on the front of the house.
We had a Veterans celebration at the clubhouse in November and we had to leave early, looking at a video of the decorated caskets and hearing taps played was to much for us, we had to go home. We are getting better at putting it all behind us but sometimes the memories flood over us. Helen is sleeping better but she still has to take a sleeping pill occasionally.
Every day we can forget a little longer, the spaces between thinking about Gary get a little further apart. We are coping better every day. We drive by the cemetery where Gary is laid to rest on the way to church once in a while, and all the memories flood back. We don‘t say anything but I know what Helen is thinking and I am thinking the same thing, should we stop. We haven’t visited his grave site yet but we have talked about it, one of these days we will stop.
We praise the LORD for our family, they keep in touch with us and each other frequently, and our church has been so supportive. We have been keeping active and going out to eat and to events with our friends here where we live and at church , that helps a lot. We still get visits from our neighbors and friends here in the park where we live, giving us support and comfort.
Helen & Jack, Gary’s Mom & Dad

Memories of Gary by Denise

Gary And Denise ready to go to Bible School

Gary,Ron, Suzie Harper, Denise,

The girl nextstore & Butch Harper at Nana Harpers on Easter Sunday

From Denise

“I have always wanted to write something in Gary’s memory. It has always been on my mind that there is not an entry from me, his sister. To this day I have not been able to view his blog and read any of the entries from others because of the pain and sadness it brings me. It still leaves me upset for days. Someday I hope to put my feelings in writing for others to read. However, for now I can say that I know what it is to truly have a broken heart.
Gary I love you and miss you.”
Your sister, Nisey
Denise L. Di Filippo

Hey Pop-pop
I promised you last time I was down visiting that I would write you a something to put in your blog about Uncle Gary, and I've been thinking about him alot and all the fun that he was, and I started to remember some funny stories. So here
are a few memories from me...
I know that we all remember Uncle Gary as the uncle with all the toys, and I was just thinking about the fun things my family would do when we would visit uncle Gary. I remember a while ago My mom, sister Diana, and I were all watching home video's one weekend when we were home from college. We came across one video of all of us at Uncle Gary's house in Delaware. Uncle Gary had this tiny go-cart that he got out one day to entertain us kids. I think he was more entertaining himself by driving the thing at full speed and letting us kids try to chase him.
I remember I was probably four or five years old and running with all my might
trying to catch that thing....none of us every did get close...but not many
people could keep up with Uncle Gary when there was a motor involved.
Uncle Gary has probably had about 30 go carts, cars, boats, unusually fast
lawnmowers, and motorcycles that I can remember in my lifetime, but by far my favorite one was the motorized wheelchair. One time my familiy went down to visit Nanna and Pop-pop in Florida and headed over to Uncle Gary's house, we parked the car got out and walked towards the garage. Of course inside the
garage was none other than a motorized wheelchair that Uncle Gary had gotten out of some poor handicapped person's garbage and fixed. I'll never forget watching Amanda take the thing out to show us how great it worked as Uncle Gary looked on with pride at his latest unusual fixer upper toy. Nanna told us later on, long after the thing had broken for good, that some of the neighbors thought one of the kids had gotten hurt. I can't help to think that Uncle Gary probably got a huge kick out of his kids cruising around the neighborhood in a motorized wheel chair.
I also remember probably my favorite memory of Uncle Gary and his speed boat. The one he got when he moved to Florida. I was probably twelve and Diana was thirteen.



Uncle Gary took me, Diana and my mom all out on the boat and, as illegal as it was, encouraged me and Diana to drive it. I'll never forget Diana gets' behind the wheel and, of course in true Diana fashion, floors the thing within an inch of it's life (or so we thought). I remember Uncle Gary laughing and saying "Is that all you got? Let me show you how you drive." Uncle Gary then takes over and of course out does the infamously wreckless Diana by scaring the living daylight out of me and racing all over the river at Mach 1 speeds. I also remember a time when Uncle Gary took us out on the speed boat and we went tubing. I got on the tube and he "took it easy on me" (I lasted about 5.3 seconds before I was flying in the air into the water.) Once I had had enough of Uncle Gary's driving we gave Diana a go on the tube. I think Uncle Gary always knew he could push Diana really far before she would get scared so Uncle Gary always went faster with Diana and scarier. I remember when Uncle Gary got driving Diana was laughing and holding on tight. Of course Uncle Gary took that as a challenge to see how fast he could go with a person attached to his speed boat. He then floored it, almost immediately (and I will never forget this) Diana's eye's got as big as dinner plates, she flew off the tube about 5 feet
into the air and cartwheeled two times over the water before splashing in.
Uncle Gary was cracking up and sped on feeling very accomplished for beating
Diana. You would think Diana would have learned her lesson but it took a few
more times of being drug behind the boat trying to jet ski before Uncle Gary won and Diana gave up.
One more thing that has given me alot of encouragement since Uncle Gary's
funeral is a verse I came across. The day of his funeral many of us recieved a
red rose from his casket. I took mine and, just without thinking where, I
placed it in my Bible to press that day. The next day I opened my Bible to the
rose and looked at the only verse underlined on the page where the rose was
placed. The verse that was underlined was Psalm 147:3, it states, "He heals
the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." I was in awe that that was the
verse, out of all the verses in my Bible, that God brought me to. It was just
what I needed at that time. It just goes to show that God is in control and is
looking out for us and is ready to heal and comfort when we need Him most.
No matter how busy Uncle Gary was he always had time for his family, and always showed us a good time. In true Kenney fashion Uncle Gary was a person who had a great sense of humor, a huge heart, and love for us all. He will truly be missed, but we can take comfort in the fact that he's racing around heaven
waiting for us to meet up with him so he can show us how fast he can go now in
his perfect heavenly body and show us all a thing or two.
Pop-pop I hope this is something you can add to your blog. I really appreciate
you writing it and putting time into helping us all remember how much fun and what an amazing person Gary was. I'm praying for you and Nanna everyday and I know God will heal and comfort. I love you and Nanna so much and I hope I can see you both soon!!
Love Bethany

GARY KENNEY

GARY B. KENNEY MERRITT ISLAND Gary B. Kenney, 50, of Merritt Island, devoted husband, father, and son, died suddenly on Mon day evening, June 16, 2008. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Sharon, a daughter, Amanda; son, Joshua; his mother and father, Mr. and Mrs. John Kenney Jr., of Merritt Island; his brothers, Craig, John and Ronald, and his sister, Denise. Visitation at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home Friday June 20th, 6 - 8 p.m., with a memorial service at Wylie-Baxley Chapel on Saturday, June 21st at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please send dontatons to Garys nephew, Jason Kenney, who is a missionary to Chile, c/o Macedonia World Baptist Missions, Inc., PO Box 519, Braselton, GA 30517.Published in FLORIDA TODAY on 6/19/2008.

GARY'S LIFE IN DELAWARE

Gary with Pastor Ingram at a picnic in the Worthington's back yard.

GARY’S LIFE IN DELAWARE
[Abridged Version]
Gary was transferred when he lived in Pennsylvania to Delaware by the Firestone store that he worked for in Trenton, he had asked for the transfer.
He moved into an apartment in Dover and worked at the Firestone store in Dover and later bought a trailer in Dover. He was soon dissatisfied with that job and started applying for jobs in the area. He applied at George & Lynch a concrete plant as a truck mechanic. He was hired and started working there, he then started looking for a house in the area.
He bought a run down farmhouse on two large lots in the area and moved into it. The house was barely livable so he started to make improvements. Before he was done he had completely gutted the house and rebuilt it inside, he sided the outside of the house with vinyl siding and put in new windows.

DON & MARSHA LaDuc

During this time he had met Don & Marsha LaDuc, Don ran a surplus store for Nanticoke Home’s, a home builder in the area. Don and Gary became best friends. Gary would stop at the store often and buy surplus building supplies from Don This made the renovating of the house much cheaper. I think he sided the whole house with siding he bought at the surplus store. Every time they would finish a house they would bring all the leftover supplies to the store and Don would sell them.
George & lynch were supplying concrete for new runways at the Dover air base, whenever the concrete was rejected the drivers would call Gary at work and he would rush home and meet them there where he had already formed a new driveway at his house and a slab for the garage. This way he poured all this concrete for just tips to the drivers. It was a lot of concrete, a very large driveway and a 28’ x 28” slab for the garage.

Gary could figure most things out, but building the garage scared him so he called his brother Jack in Michigan to come down and help him. Gary sent the plans to Jack and he made up a material list and Gary had all the material delivered to the site.

Jack came down with a couple of friends and put up the shell of the garage. Gary made a second floor he wanted us [Helen & Me] to move into when I retired, which we did before we moved to Florida. Gary worked hard with a lot of help, and covered the shell with plywood siding, and put a roof on it. He later sided the garage with vinyl siding from Don's surplus store

The building was now closed in and the inside could be finished at a more leisurely pace. Helen and I would go down almost every weekend and stay and help him then go to church with Gary and his family Sunday then drive back to Pennsylvania Sunday evening.
I could not begin the name all the friends that helped Gary with this project. Gary had a lot of friends that he had helped with various projects and they helped him whenever he needed help.
After this he decided to replace a small room on the side of the house and make it into a master bedroom with a bath, this was a big job but that didn't faze Gary, he went ahead at nights and weekends and finished it. He and I also put central heat in the house, it only had a kerosene heater in the living room when he moved in.
One day on a Sunday we were in the driveway and Gary looked up at the house and said that bedroom on the second floor needs a window, He said “come-on lets go up to Lowe's and get one“, before I went back to Pennsylvania that evening that bedroom had a window. If you would give Gary a bucket of drywall mud and a couple tubes of caulk he could do any home improvement. This is just the way Gary did things.
I know I have left a lot out of this story, but I don’t want to make it to long.

Shirley and Pastor Ingram at the Space Center, notice the launch pad in the background.

Comment by Shirley Ingram I remember a lot of the Delaware story, it seemed Gary was his happiest when he had a project in process. But it was always fun to get the grand tour after the completion, he was really excited and rightly so. I am Pastor Ingrams wife and we enjoyed the Kenney family in our church for many years. Gary always ready to help or give advice to assist in any need. He had many friends and will be missed. Shirley Ingram

GARY'S JET BOAT

Thanks to Ron for these pictures

I was going to put this in Memories of Gary but this deserves a spot all to itself.
When Gary lived in Delaware, he always had a boat of some kind, he would buy and sell boats as the spirit moved him. If he saw a boat in someone’s yard that had not moved for awhile he would stop and ask if they wanted to sell it. He would bicker with them for a couple of days and if he thought was worth the price he would buy it, then sell it when he got tired of it. I can’t remember all the boats he had but one stands out in my memory. It was a Slick Craft jet boat about sixteen feet with a 454 Chevrolet engine all chrome with big header exhaust pipes [boy was it loud] when he bought it was not running right. It turned out that it needed a cam shaft. That did not bother Gary, he ordered a full race cam shaft from a speed shop and put it in.

He then found out the boat would only go sixty miles an hour so he sent the jet assembly to Ohio to be reworked, he wanted it to go at least seventy miles an hour. He was always trying to get me to go out for a ride in the Delaware Bay, what a ride, sixty miles an hour over a bumpy road, one ride was enough for me., I came home hurting and exhausted.
One day he talked me into going with him to the Murder Kill River [a Dutch name that means something?] that runs from Dover to the Delaware Bay, how much trouble can you get into in a little river? We were going down the river at a slow pace when we came to a sharp turn to the right in the river, the redneck in Gary surfaced, watch this, he gave it everything the boat had and we started roaring along when we made the turn, a wind was coming up the river and we went airborne. We ended about thirty feet into the marsh. What to do? we walked through the marsh in black muck up to our necks till we found a house, Gary knocked and the man that came to the door was ready to shut the door in our face till Gary explained to him what had happened, he brought a phone to the door and Gary called a friend to come and pick us up.
To make a long story short it took a gang [the Ingram's and the LuDuc's] with pry bars another boat, a chain fall and the rest of the day to get the boat out of the marsh inch by inch.

THE LAST PICTURE TAKEN OF GARY

THE LAST PHOTO TAKEN OF GARY
This snapshot was taken by my granddaughter Aniliese, Saturday May 31 2008 at Durango’s Steakhouse Restaurant in Cocoa beach, Gary took us there to celebrate Amanda’s graduation from high school. We then all went outside to view a Shuttle Launch. I feel this is the last photo taken of Gary before he was murdered. This photo has not been changed in any way it is just as it came from the camera.
Aniliese was visiting us from Michigan and she was here through all the commotion that followed Gary’s murder, I’m sure its something she will never forget.
We had flown her back with us to Florida when we came back from her sister Amy’s high school graduation in Michigan.
Our son Ron was downloading pictures from her camera after Analiese came home and found this picture. Gary looks troubled, this is because he is, he had been going through some personal troubles that would not go away and they were about to come to a head. Little did he know that all his troubles would be over soon.
I will leave justice to the court system and pray that it will be done.
As always, Gods will be done.

“THY WILL BE DONE IN EARTH, AS IT IS IN HEAVEN”
Matthew 6:10

GARY IN HAPPIER TIMES

The top left picture was taken at Nana Harper's 80th birthday.

The other is a picture of Gary and Josh horsing around.

This is Gary before the worries overtook him.

The bottom pictures were taken by Gary's brother Ron on a vacation back in

These are pictures of Gary before his family troubles overtook him.

Gary's brother Ron wrote this.
In 2006 we were visiting my parents in Florida and I went to a children’s soccer game with Gary. At the time Gary was working out with weights (as you can see). While we were there Gary and I took a motorcycle ride. He rode his super fast sport bike and I rode the much slower street/dirt bike. Florida does not have a helmet law, although with my limited riding skills, I wore one. I remember Gary riding in front of me with his flattop hair cut, cool sunglasses and newly acquired muscles. He looked much tougher than I did!
While we were at the soccer game I told him to show me the “gunboats” and he struck this pose. This picture really illustrates something about Gary. When he did something, he gave it his all. I’m not sure how much he weighed in this picture, but he must have been pushing 200. When he died he couldn't’t have weighed much more than 150. Why? He was running six miles a day. He had taken on the body of a long distance runner.

Gary's Dad;

I wish Gary looked like that because he was running, Helen and I were very close to Gary before this happened. He came to our house on the way home from work often, and talked to Helen almost every day. He had asked Helen and me for advice about problems he was having, he was talking to me about very personal problems. He had never done this before, I gave some advice that was right, but was the wrong advice for his problem. I don’t think if I had given other advice it would have mattered. What happened was going to happen, the detectives told us Darryl was going to murder Gary whether it was now or later it was going to be done.

Gary’s spirit about things will surely be missed.

FLAG

This flag was presented to us by some of Gary’s coworkers. We feel pleased and honored that they would take the time to think of us and present this flag to us that flew over the Kennedy Space Center while Gary worked there.

Thanks Guys

Thoughts of Gary from Craig

Gary's brother Craig, his wife Kay, Eric and Kathleen

If I were to sit and write down all the memories and stories about my brother Gary it would form a tome probably rivaling Tolstoy's War and Peace in its length. Most of the stories would tell of Gary's love of things mechanical. Gary would pull a rusty old lawn mower out of some one's trash that hadn't run in years and we would be mowing our lawn with it the next day. Gary wasn't only concerned about the condition of the engine in his own vehicles but was always concerned about how every one else's car was running as many of his friends and relatives have already written down and stated.
My Mom and Dad, as well as me and my brothers and sister went through some heartbreaking times with Gary as well. But as Paul wrote in the book of Romans, "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose." My whole immediate family as well as some of my extended family came to Christ and it all started with Gary.
I was amazed as I sat in the pew behind my parents at Gary's wake and listened to all the people who paid their respects that we didn't even know that Gary helped in some way. "Gary fixed my roof after a hurricane", " Gary drove all the way out to my house to help me put in a water pump" etc.
One word that seems to pop into my head when I think of Gary is 'fireworks" . Letting the 4th of July go by without about 2 tons of fireworks was anathema to Gary. I still remember the crater that was left in Jacks backyard in Bensalem. About 6 foot in diameter and about a foot deep. Gary would drive all the way to South of the Border every year and bring back a trunk load. (I still think he got some of them from a military base!)
One story I would like to tell. I went to visit Gary and my parents one weekend when they lived in Delaware and I remarked how much that I liked the watch that Gary had on. He took it off and gave it to me! It was a Rolex. (Of course it was a fake) but it was the best fake Rolex watch anybody ever saw. It was perpetual and the second hand swept just like a real one. It was the best watch I ever had. One day the stem came out and I couldn't set the time anymore and I never bothered to have it fixed. I looked all over for that watch after Gary's passing because I kept it but I haven't been able to find it. I hope that it turns up somewhere. We all miss you Gary.
Your Brother Craig
SOME COMMENTS BY CRAIG
I was always proud to tell my friends and co-workers that I had a brother that worked at the Kennedy Space Center. Every time there was a launch I always marveled that my brother Gary had a hand in it. Now whenever a shuttle or a rocket is launched I will think of Gary.
Its ironic seeing Gary in front of our old red and white Dodge van. The van eventually ended up being his later on.
I remember that Pat! I remember Mom taking him next door to the Conrey's because Jane Conrey was a nurse. The Conrey's also referred to Gary as "The Towhead". If I remember correctly he ended up at Lower Bucks hospital to have his stomach pumped.
From Dad,
He drank corn remover they didn't pump his stomach because they were afraid his stomach would blow out. They admitted him for observation.

Aunt Pat's Memories

I will never forget Gary:
Gary was the funniest kid I know. I remember when he filled soda cans with acytelene lit it and blew the window boxes off the house. He was always into something. Remember the time he got into the mini bike accident with Jimmy Beck? I can still hear that chuckle he had when he told you a story. He would always end his stories with a chuckle as he was walking away. When he would see me he would always say "Hey Aunt Pat how're doing?" When I first moved to Florida my car was brand new - only about 2000 miles on it and when I was down Helen & Jack's Gary came over and the first thing he wanted to do was change the oil in my car. There are so many things I remember - some of which have already been written about. I remember that time when he ate the neighbors cakes. I also remember the time he had to be taken to the hospital because he drank corn remover!! Talking about his repairs and inventions that grill he made is awesome. He was such a sincere guy - no wonder so many people loved him. He made so many people laugh.
Gary's Aunt Pat

Gary at Nana Harpers House

Garys Life Growing Up As I Remember It, By His Dad

Gary’s Life Growing Up As I Remember It
I'll add posts to this as I remember them.

Garys Dad

Gary mainly grew up in Newportville, Bucks County Pennsylvania. He was different as were all of our kids, they all had distinct personalities. Gary was always mechanically inclined, he was always taking things apart and he could usually put them back together. He always had some sort of scheme going on.
Some of the most memorable ones.

The Aluminum Can Scheme
He and Ronnie Wilson decided to sell aluminum cans, first they had to crush the cans [I don‘t know the logic in this], Gary set the cans on a concrete block and Ronnie dropped another block on the cans, as they got faster Gary didn’t get his hand out in time, Gary came running home with a hurt hand there didn‘t seem to be any major damage to his hand, Woodie Wilson, Ron’s father came down to our house worried about Gary.
Another time Gary came home with a unicycle that he had bought from Ronnie Wilson for a couple of dollars, Ronnie had gotten it as a gift but couldn’t ride it so he sold it to Gary who rode as soon as he got on it. Later Mr. Wilson came down to our house and apologized but he had paid over a Hundred dollars for the bike and wanted it back, so Gary returned it and got his couple of dollars back.

Jimmy Beck
Another one of Gary’s friends growing up was Jimmy Beck. They always had something going on, usually it involved a lawn mower or a Minnie bike.
Jimmy and Gary were always inventing some sort of bicycle they would ride around the neighborhood, the bikes were some crazy things. If they weren’t riding around on their crazy bikes they were riding around on a riding lawnmower.

Billy Diamond

Another of Gary’s friends was Billy Diamond, Billy had a safe in his basementthat had never been opened, Billy and Gary spent the whole summer trying to open that safe. They tried different combinations and wrote every one they tried in a note book, Gary showed me the note book and it was practically filled with numbers they had tried. They finally got the safe open and it was empty.

The Basket Case Motorcycle

Gary bought a motorcycle from a friend it was in about five cardboard boxes, He got it together and rode it. I will admit it wasn’t very safe. Gary was before duct tape so he used wire and chewing gum to repair things.

Bobby McIlvane

Gary had another friend Bobby McIlvane. Bobby’s father had a shop behind his house and he tinkered with everything. Mr. McIlvane bought a boat because he wanted the motor and not the boat. Of course Gary took the boat it was a fifteen foot fiberglass boat, we lived on the creek and one day I see Mr. McIlvane and Gary bringing this boat to our house, they put the boat in the creek. Gary got an old outboard some were and got it running and started cruising up and down the creek.
One night we wanted to go out and couldn’t find Gary, the kids told me he was out in his boat I went dawn the road and heard Gary and his friends in the boat they had gotten a pair of water skis some were and were skiing in about one foot of water with rocks every were. I told him how unsafe it was, I don’t know if he did it any more.

Cheryl Brady
When we lived in Winder Village Gary had a friend, Cheryl Brady they were about five years old, they did everything together. One day our next door neighbor came over to our house and asked if we had seen any strangers around the neighborhood, she had had a farmer that delivered food to her house and it was missing. I don’t remember how, but Gary admitted that he and Cheryl had taken it to the field behind our house and eaten it. We punished him told him not to do that again. A couple weeks later the next door neighbor came over and said her baked goods that were delivered were missing, of course we knew who to suspect, Gary and Cheryl admitted they had taken it back to the field and eaten it. I guess farm food and baked goods were different, so they had no problem taking the baked goods.

Gary and His Motorcycle Track

There was a small lot at the end of our street, and I mean small. Gary made a motorcycle track there. It was in a wooded area, he was always looking for someone to race him. He could fly around that track but no one else could.
When he moved to Delaware he was always out in the woods riding his dirt bike, one day another fellow was riding out there and he challenged Gary to a race. Gary took him on, he didn’t beat but he came close. It turns out this guy was a motorcycle racer. He told he challenged Gary as a joke because Gary’s bike was so old. He told Gary he should try racing and told him where the track was. Gary was there next Sunday, and came in second. The next Gary was determined to come in first. He was out front when he crashed, when he got up he couldn’t start his bike because his ankle was broken. That was the end of his racing career. He was on crutches for a long time. He had just bought a Mustang fastback coupe with all the goodies, it was a fast car. The only problem it was a stick shift and Gary couldn’t use the clutch or get his crutches in the car without taking them apart. He struggled with that for awhile then traded it in for a SUV.

Gary the Ice Skater

We lived on a creek in Bucks County, the creek was a rather large one that emptied into the Delaware river and was tidal. Most winters the creek froze solid and all the kids in the neighborhood skated on it, at night they would build bonfires on it. I always was worried that one of the kids would go through the ice and be swept under the ice and be trapped.
There was a bridge over the creek near the house and for some reason the ice under the bridge would not freeze as solid as the rest of the creek. I warned the kids to keep away from the ice under the bridge. Of course Gary had to see how close he could he come to the thin ice and finally he went through. I think it was Robert Hawk that managed to pull him out without any harm but being wet and cold, that was Gary always trying to get as close as he could to danger.

GARY AND THE STOLEN CAR

Have you ever stolen a car? Not break a window get in and hot wire a car, just find the keys of a car of someone you know, and taken a joy ride without the owners consent and put it back before they knew it was gone.
One night when Gary was about fifteen years old I received a call one night from the Bristol Township Police that Gary was at the police station and would I come to the police station. I went up to the station house and met with the police. There three girls about fourteen or fifteen crying their eyes out there with their parents who were giving it to them.
A policeman took me aside and told me that this boy who was an acquaintance of Gary’s [ he did not know him that well] had a brother who was in the army and he decided to take his brothers car out for a little ride. He met up with Gary and Billy Diamond who were hanging around the neighborhood and picked them up for a ride. I hadn’t seen Billy at the police station [more about that later]. They all went riding around Levittown and picked up the three girls. They seemed like nice girls that just made a bad decision, while they were riding around they attracted the attention of the police. The driver of the car decided to lose the police [bad decision] and in the process got in a couple of minor accidents before he was caught. The policeman told me that Gary was not in any trouble, just that I should have a talk with him about his bad decisions.
I brought Gary home we didn‘t talk much on the way home, as soon he got into the house he immediately called Billy Diamond, and I heard him say to Billy “you lucky dog when I saw you jump out of that car I tried to jump too but he speeded up and I couldn’t jump” it seems that Billy jumped out of the car in Humeville when the police were chasing them, and no one saw him so he just walked home. That was Gary’s experience with a stolen car. If that was his only one I don’t know.

More to be added

Gary And His Brothers In The Scouts

This is a picture of the boys and me in the scouts.

Left to right, Gary, Jack, Me, and Craig.

Gary was in the cub scouts, he didn't take to well to the scouts and told us he would rather not be in the scouts. I think Craig and Jack made Star and Life Rank. We had a good time in the scouts. We belonged to troop #44 in Newportville sponsored by the Newportville United Church of Christ.

LISA'S MEMORIES OF UNCLE GARY

Before Lisa moved to Indiana she lived across the street from Gary.
Lisa is Gary's brother Jack's daughter

My memories of Uncle Gary are few-and-far-between because we moved so far away when I was so young. But he was my uncle, and the impression he made on me at such a young age makes the memories I have of him very fresh. It's really hard to believe that he's gone, that I'll never get a chance to see him again, or to introduce him to my little girl. He and Joel got along so well when they met, and I'm so sad they didn't have a chance to get better acquainted. Going to his funeral was the most horrible thing I've ever had to go to (and hopefully it's the worst thing from here on out). However, I have to remind myself that Uncle Gary is happy now, and I'm sure he wants everyone else to be happy too.

Here are a few of the memories I have of Uncle Gary.
He bought me an anatomically correct BOY doll on accident one Christmas! So he took it back and bought me my very first Barbie (to my mom's disapproval). He dressed up as Santa and came over to our house one year (my dad has a picture somewhere, I think). I wasn't fooled, though, and gave him a big "hi, Uncle Gary!" He was pretty disappointed!

I was the flower girl in his wedding. Uncle Gary had a moustache back then. No matter how many years after he shaved it off, he just never looked right to me without it (even to this day!).
Uncle Gary gave us motorcycle rides in my backyard on Lewisville Avenue when we were little. I'll never forget watching him pop a wheelie with Stephen on the front!
He bought the best, most expensive, most illegal fireworks. He introduced me to the joy of parachutes. They'll always be my favorite fireworks. I'll never forget collecting as many as I could. I had a pink one and an orange one hanging in my closet in Pennsylvania until we moved.
He came to visit us in Indiana once. He bought fireworks and set them off in our backyard (and we lived next to an ex-police officer, no less).
We also played Wheel of Fortune while he visited. And of course, he cheated the ENTIRE time, even when I finally figured it out! I was only 10! I remember Nana telling us she had to put duct tape on her Rummikub set because Uncle Gary could see the numbers through the tiles.
He called one year to ask me what I wanted for Christmas. I told him I wanted a Barbie, not knowing that my mom had already told Aunt Sharon to get me a paint set. Guess what…Uncle Gary sent me both!
I remember visiting his house in Delaware. Uncle Gary made sure I got to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit, even though I wasn't allowed to. I was pretty grateful for that.
I also remember riding in his black Mustang. It felt like a spaceship.
Joel and I visited during our honeymoon. Uncle Gary took us out to a few different places, but he made sure Joel got to see an alligator, which was very cool. Joel enjoyed visiting with Uncle Gary and seeing all his fun toys. We had so much fun with Joshua, too. There was definitely a special bond between Joshua and Uncle Gary

Jason ,Jenny and Kids

Thoughts fron Gary's Nephew Jason

This is a post that I have been pondering for a few weeks and I believe now I can put my thoughts into the appropriate words.Some may wonder what has been the biggest challenge or adjustment we have had to make since moving to a foreign field. It hasn’t been the culture, because you learn to adapt yourself, it isn’t the language because there is light at the end of that long tunnel, it isn’t even missing the foods and things from the “homeland” because there will always be another visit, and it’s not even missing out on family get-togethers because again there is furlough. The toughest aspect of moving away is being thousands of miles away when family faces hardship and tragedy.Several months ago Jenny faced a sad time in her family with the illness and subsequent death of her aunt, but we thank the Lord the she was able to make a flight home for the funeral. Several weeks ago my family faced a horrific tragedy that shook us all to the core. My Uncle Gary was killed suddenly and tragically. Not only is Uncle Gary my dad’s younger brother, but his wife, my Aunt Sharon, is my mom’s younger sister. So this event affected everyone to whom I am related. If there was ever a time I wished I wasn’t in Chile it was when my grandfather called me with the bad news. It was a difficult time because we are too far to comfort or be comforted. I wanted to hug my family or even be hugged by them, but distance prevented it. Death in family is one of those “pre-field” conversations that Jenny and I had before leaving. Discussing it and facing it are two different worlds. Although there is sadness for having to feel like a distant spectator while family mourned I do not regret for being in the place where God has called us.
Uncle Gary with my grandparents
Uncle Gary was the kind of crazy uncle that gives kids the fun childhood memories they will share years later. He was full of spontaneity and never seemed bothered with the small stuff. From canoe rides, go-carts, speed boats, jet skis, four wheelers, motorcycles, Uncle Gary & Aunt Sharon always had new toys that made visiting them a new adventure. One time Uncle Gary even rigged up Josh’s power wheels to go extra fast by crossing something, or rigging something with a powered wheel chair motor he found in the trash.When I was a kid he gave me a cap gun that didn’t work. His quick solution was to give me a hammer and send me out on the apartment balcony to bust the caps. Who knows what the neighbors thought. Uncle Gary was the one you can depend on to bring enough fireworks to 4th of July picnics to take out a battle ship. You should’ve seen how high a metal trashcan lid can fly with enough fireworks underneath it! One time Uncle Gary took us on a shark fishing expedition which was something never to be forgotten. I think I was 13. We had everything ready for shark fishing, big ice blocks of fish guts hanging off the back of the boat, the biggest hooks with fish for bait that were bigger than any fish I had ever caught up to that point. We didn’t get any shark that day; my brother Stephen caught some seasickness. How many people even get to even attempt shark fishing? The night before my wedding my car broke down. Uncle Gary checked it out and said; “You’re not planning on taking this on your honey moon are you?” “Uh, yea,” I responded. He laughed, and got the car running. Anyway, his laugh prompted me to borrow a car for the honeymoon. During one of our visits to Florida he took me and Jenny out on his little four person seadoo boat. He proudly announced, “You can’t flip this thing over if you tried”. Somehow that statement became a challenge as he did everything possible to prove that boat couldn’t be flipped. Jenny and I were slung all over the place. One night while sitting in his living room during a visit to Florida he said to Jenny and me; “You guys want to go fishing?” We didn’t know that meant right then. Within minutes Aunt Sharon agreed to watch the kids and we were on our way. He took us inside Kennedy Space Center where he worked to fish off one of their private beaches. Like the shark fishing expedition I came up empty although Jenny reeled in a catch.Every visit to Florida was guaranteed my vehicle would be checked out and my kids were going to be hauled off to the dollar store or taken to the pool. Uncle Gary was a great guy; he could fix anything, and was never too busy to take the time to help someone out.My grandfather started a blog in Uncle Gary’s memory and I invite you to take a visit.
Whenever tragedy takes place we have faith that God will somehow and someway be glorified in or through it.
Tomorrow I will share more...
A Bit Of Comfort In Grief
Whenever tragedy takes place we have faith that God will somehow and someway be glorified in or through it...My Aunt Sharon arranged that donations be sent to our family and the work here in Chile in lieu of flowers. To date we have received $600 for the ministry here. Much of it coming from people I do not even know. Starting next Wednesday is the third annual Youth Congress that the church here in Chile will be hosting. Several churches around Santiago will be bringing their young people to the conference. Every donation that we receive will go toward the expenses of this conference. It is our prayer that through the conference young people will give their hearts to Christ, be challenged to live for Christ, and be helped. The other night we heard of a church coming a good distance with 15 teenagers, so there will be a need for additional funds. Though our family has been hit with an enormous tragedy it is our prayer that through these donations an eternal difference will be made.Thank you to those who gave and thank you for your sympathies and comfort toward my family during our time of grief.

Ron & Denise

Ron and his family at Fundamental Baptist Church of Battle Creek where he is the Pastor

Gary's brother Ron and his wife Denise at Gary's Memorial Service

A Memory From Gary's Brother Ron

Gary Brian Kenney
January 22, 1958 - June 16, 2008
On June 16th my 50 year old brother Gary’s died both suddenly and very tragically. This heartbreaking event hit my family like no other in our lives. When I first heard the news my mind was telling me that it was not true even as the words were coming out of my father’s mouth over the telephone.
Denise and I spent one week in Florida to attend the funeral and be with my parents. Many other family members and friends converged on the area to attend the funeral and to be an encouragement to each other. My brothers, Craig, John, and I spoke at the funeral. My parent’s pastor, Dr. Mark Rhodes was truly a comfort and very clearly and powerfully presented the gospel.
Gary is survived by Sharon, his wife of over 20 years, and their three children, Darryl (22), Amanda (17) and Joshua (10). Also surviving are his parents, John and Helen and the aforementioned brothers and our sister Denise DiFilippo. Once my parents moved to Florida after retirement, it wasn’t too long before Gary and Sharon moved down there too. Gary moved into a home only five minutes from Mom and Dad’s home. Gary was an ever present help to my parents around their home and, of course, with their vehicles. Gary was employed at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Initially he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic on the huge crawler that transports the shuttle to the launch pad.
Gary loved his family. He had recently took up running. He was running 6 miles per day. On several of the days his ten year old son, Joshua, would join him for the six mile trip to Sharon’s job and then the three of them would drive home together in their truck. Gary has always had an interest and a natural ability for things mechanical. I can remember kids in the neighborhood bringing their mini-bikes to him to fix. He has had a mini-bike or a motorcycle since he was about 10 years old. He has had boats, quads, jet-skis, cars and trucks. One of Gary’s neighbors made the following comment at the funeral reception, ”If you wanted Gary to stop over all you had to do was raise the hood on your car! Gary would either tell you how to fix it our push you out of the way and do it himself!”
For me, Gary was my roommate for much of my childhood. Like most brothers sharing a room, we had our fights, and since Gary was four years older than me, I usuall lost. But we also had a lot of fun. I can remember goofing off until we heard Dad’s footsteps creaking down the stairs. We spent many nights up later than we were supposed to watching reruns of Hogan’s Heros and Dick Vandyke on our smal black and white TV. Gary tried his best to teach me to ride a dirt bike. On one occasision he was trying to teach me to do a “hole shot.” I panicked, pulled back on the throttle and hit a pole in the back yard and was promptly sent over the handle bars. If we road together, I usually spent most of the time trying to catch up to Gary. He was the one that always had to go faster, jump higher and just push the bike to the limit.
My brother Craig pointed out something very important when he spoke at the funeral. It was around this time that both my parents came the Christ. This struggle brought my parents even closer to the Lord and during this time they were praying for all of their children. Praise the Lord, one by one they all came to Christ. As I look at this event that we are dealing with now and will continue to deal with in the days ahead, I wonder if any good can come from it. In the immediate view, the gospel was preached at my brother’s funeral. My family, including uncles and cousins, has been brought closer together.
I rest in the assurance that we serve a God that sees around the corners ahead and sees through all of the shadows.

Psalm 107:14-15
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

William Cowper, authored many poems and hymns including the well know There is a Fountain Filled with Blood. I have found encouragement in the one below titled,
God Moves in a Mysterious Way.
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Deep in unfathomable mines Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs And works His sovereign will.
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break In blessings on your head.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence He hides a smiling face.
His purposes will ripen fast, Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste, But sweet will be the flower.
Blind unbelief is sure to err And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter, And He will make it plain.

Thank you too all of those that have written, called and especially prayed for my family during this time.
Ron and Denise Kenney

A Poem To Cousin Gary from Cindy

On January 22, 1958
Gary Brian Kenney is born
On June 16, 2008
An entire family now mourns.

Like a busy little bee
Gary was always a buzzin'
Fixin', ridin', workin', playin'
I am sad, I miss you, dear cousin.

Visits to Gary's were never boring;
Actually quite the adventure,
My kids loved your toys and especially,
Your stories about your work at the Space Center.

There are so many things
I wish we could have done
Like the bike week ride with Kevin
Would have been #1.

I am so sorry I didn't come see you
When I was down in June,
But I never thought for a moment
That you would be taken from us so soon.

As you now walk on Heaven's shore,
Hand in hand with Jesus;
It's still so hard to comprehend
That you are no longer with us.

Your decision to accept Christ
So many years ago,
Gives me great peace because
I'll see you again, I know.

I love you! From, Cindy

In Memory Gary Brian Kenney

Garys Job At Kennedy Space Center

Gary was so proud to be working at the space center, he always joked to people that he was training to be an astronaut. When he started there he was working on the crawler, he ended up being a welder. He came to my house almost every day on the way home and told me all about the crawler, or what he was working on as a welder. He said "I never knew jobs like this existed". He gave me this shirt.

A Memory of Gary by His Brother Jack

Gary's brother Jack, Purivi and Kricket
A memory of Gary By His brother Jack;I remember one time we visited Gary in Delaware. Whenever you visited he wanted to do something that you wouldn't forget. He told me he wanted to take me into Dover Air force base and see a C-5 (I think thats right, it's the really big one). I didn't think he could do it but sure enough there we were at the gate and walked in with a friend of his like we owned the place. I couldn't believe it. We went all over that plane without an escorted. Of course this was pre-911. He took me on top of the wings and I paced off the wing span. From the line where you couldn't walk on the left wing to the line you couldn't walk on the right wing was 73 steps. It's something I'll never forget. Thanks brother

Pictures of Gary As I Find them

Another picture of Gary's Sportster.

Gary bought me this Moped at a yard sale in Delaware for $20.00 and got it running, I rode all around the back roads near his house.

Gary showing Mom his new boat

Gary's Graduation from Delhas High School

Gary in our living room in Florida



This is one of Helens favorite pictures of our kid's, it was taken Easter 196? Gary is on the second row left. My brother in law Dick Matlack always called Gary "pecks bad boy" you can see the devilment in his eyes.

Gary and his mom in his living room in Delaware, Christmas 1994
Gary and his Brothers and sister at Jason's Wedding in Georgia
Left to right, Ron,Denise,Gary,Jack, and Craig

The Jet boat Gary bought in Florida, he was told that you couldn't turn it over, he tried but as best I know he never did, but he tried as anyone who went out with him could tell you.He took Jack and I out fishing in the port, the waves were about 4ft and he wanted to go out into the ocean,for once he listened to me and we didn't go out.

More crabs caught at Toms Cove Virginia.


Gary with a giant crab he caught at Toms Cove, Virginia


Gary with his brothers and brother in law Ray at Ron's Wedding, with his mustache.



Gary's custom Harley 1200cc Sportster



Gary and Denise on his Harley
Gary at Myrtle Beach 1959



Gary the chess master