REMEMBER GARY KENNEY -- JANUARY 22 1958 - JUNE 16 2008

2012-01-17T04:21:00.000-08:00

Happy birthday Gary, January 22

Love, Mom & Dad, Craig, Jack, Denise,& Ron

A New Site

2012-01-03T15:09:00.001-08:00

Another site I never saw;
Watch video then scroll down

://victimsheartland.forumotion.com/t4201-a-central-florida-woman-47-year-old-sharon-myers-has-been-charged-with-first-degree-premeditated-murder-and-armed-burglary-for-what-police-say-was-her-role-in-coercing-her-son-into-killing-his-father

A Viera woman arrested

2012-01-03T15:01:00.000-08:00

Another article I never saw.

Mom plotted with her imprisoned son and another inmate to kill her husband is arrested on murder charges.

http://erickaecourtney.wordpress.com/tag/darryl-kenney-son-gary-kenney-father-merritt-island-news-charged-murder-news-florida-gary-kenney/

Son Faces Charges In Father's Slaying

2012-01-03T14:54:00.000-08:00

A new video I just came across.

Son Charged In Slaying Of Father
Merritt Island Man Found Dead Inside HomeRead more:

http://www.wesh.com/news/16626696/detail.html

Sharon Made Bond

2011-11-02T14:54:00.000-07:00

Sharons next hearing to set her trial date,

Calendar Posting on 01/04/12

03/21/2012
CAL: HEARING
Calendar Posting on 12-14-2011

Sharon was granted bond

SHARON"S BOND CONDITIONS

DEFENDANT MAY NOT PARTICIPATE IN ANY NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANY BONDSMEN. DEFENDANT'S HUSBAND (MR. BRYAN MYERS) SHALL BE RESPOSIBLE FOR ANY AND ALL BOND NEGOTIATIONS WITH ANY BONDSMEN.
ADDITIONAL BOND CONDITION-DEFENDANT MAY NOT POSESS ANY FOREIGN CURRENCY AND MAY NOT ENGAGE IN ANY TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING FOREIGN CURRENCY.
Case to remain as previously set for (DOCKET SOUNDING 01-04-2012 AT 8:30AM WITH JUDGE ROBERTS)
DEFENDANT IS TO BE PLACED ON GPS MONITORING PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM THE BREVARD COUNTY JAIL. DEFENDANT'S LAWYERS MUST NOTIFY THE GPS MONITORING OFFICE WHENEVER THE DEFENDANT IS SCHEDULED FOR AN OFFICE VISIT. DEFENDANT WILL HAVE THIRTY MINUTES TO TRAVEL TO AND FROM ANY CHURCH ACTIVITY, DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT, AND OFFICE VISIT WITH HER ATTORNEY.

PRIOR TO THE DEFENDANT BEING RELEASED THE DEFENSE ATTORNEYS IN THIS MATTER WILL BE RESPOSIBLE FOR PROVIDING WRITTEN NOTICE TO THE COURT AND TO THE STATE THAT ALL CONDITIONS ARE BEING MET. ONCE WRITTEN NOTICE HAS BEEN RECEIVED AND ACKNOWLEDGED BY THE COURT DEFENDANT MAY BE RELEASED. COURT MADE RULINGS REGARDING PROOF EVIDENT PRESUMPTION GREAT HEARING. RULING MADE ON THE RECORD. COURT GRANTED DEFENSE'S REQUEST FOR A REDUCTION OF BOND.

ADDITIONAL BOND CONDITIONS- NO SALE OF HOME WITHOUT COURT'S PERMISSION. DEFENDANT MAY NOT DISCUSS CASE WITH ANY WITNESSES. DEFENDANT MAY NOT HAVE ANY CHECKING ACCOUNT IN HER NAME AND ANY CHECKING ACCOUNT WITH HER NAME ON IT CURRENTLY MUST BE CHANGED TO REMOVE DEFENDANT. ANY MONIES REMAINING IN THE VICTIM'S CHILDREN'S TRUST ACCOUNTS ARE TO BE PLACED IN ATTORNEY ONEK'S TRUST ACCOUNT IMMEDIATELY.
　
DEFENDANT MUST SURRENDER HER PASSPORT IMMEDIATELY TO THE BONDSMAN. DEFENDANT'S HUSBAND'S (MR. BRYAN MYERS) PASSPORT MUST ALSO BE SURRENDERED IMMEDIATELY TO THE BONDSMAN. DEFENDANT, HER HUSBAND, AND HER CHILDREN MAY NOT APPLY FOR A NEW PASSPORT DURING THE PENDENCY OF THIS CASE. DEFENDANT MUST SURRENDER ANY AND ALL CREDIT CARDS IN HER NAME. DEFENDANT MAY NOT APPLY FOR ANY NEW CREDIT CARDS DURING THE PENDENCY OF THIS CASE. DEFENDANT MAY NOT CONDUCT ANY CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS. DEFENDANT MAY NOT WRITE ANY CHECKS. DEFENDANT MAY NOT ENGAGE IN ANY INTERNET TRANSACTIONS.

Sharon has been granted permission to travel, I can't explain why a murder suspect is given so much leeway, I guess it depends how well you know the judge.
I have been told that she is also on the her facebook.

V4B 09:08
COURT HEARD DEFENSE'S MOTION TO ALLOW TRAVEL. COURT

MOTION. DEFENSE ATTORNEY TO SUBMIT AN ORDER TO THE

COURT.

COURT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT SPEEDY TRIAL WAS PREVIOUSLY WAIVED
AS TO THE CASE.
D 1
01/04/2012
75
4
CR/TR NOTICE TO APPEAR
558
01/04/2012
76
5
ORDER ALLOWING TRAVEL
622
01/04/2012
77
6
MOTION FOR TRAVEL
622
D 1
03/14/2012
1
CAL: DOCKET SOUNDING
558

Calendar Posting on 01/04/12
03/21/2012
1
CAL: HEARING

Calendar Posting on 12-14-2011

Darryls Address

2011-08-05T03:54:00.000-07:00

If any one would care to write Darryl here is his address,

Darryl Kenney DC# E23176
Tomoka Correctional Institution
3950 Tiger Bay Road
Daytona Beach, FL 32124

Three Year Anniversary of Gary’s Murder

2011-06-09T04:15:00.000-07:00

The third anniversary of Gary's murder, 06/16/2011. Things haven't changed much, we haven't eaten at Sonny's Barbecue since that gathering that Gary had for my fathers day celabration, many bad memories.
We still think of Gary and miss him, what a waste of life.
We are waiting for Sharon's trial, maybe now this will be over at last.

Mom May Testify At Sons Murder Trial

2011-03-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mom May Testify At Son's Murder Trial
[She took the fifth amendment on all questions asked her]

http://www.wftv.com/news/25445635/detail.html

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. --
A mother could soon be called to testify in her son's murder trial. Her son, Darryl Kenney, is accused of murdering his own father the day after Father's Day in 2008.
Sharon Kenney has been subpoenaed as a possible defense witness so she has not been allowed into the courtroom yet. She could testify about hundreds of letters detailing abuse that the defense is hoping will keep Darryl Kenney from spending the rest of his life in prison.
"The wound was through the lung and through the heart," a medical examiner explained on the stand.As the medical examiner showed jurors the numerous injuries that led to Gary Kenney's death, his 24- year-old son sat at the defense attorney's table expressionless."What was the cause of death?" an attorney asked."Homicide," the medical examiner replied.
Investigators say Darryl Kenney killed his father in a fight over guns that were hidden from him. He was captured trying to flee from the neighborhood.

Noticably absent from the courtroom, the victim's wife and the defendant's mother, Sharon Kenney, and her daughter Amanda.

Darryl Kenney's defense attorney told jurors his mother wrote him hundreds of letters describing abuse at the hand of Gary Kenney. Investigators say Darryl met with his mother at the mall on Merritt Island just after he killed his father and told her to stay away. Authorities believe he returned to try to dispose of the body.

Agents say a few days before the murder he told his sister Amanda about his plan to kill their father and to make sure family members weren't home at the time. Agents say nobody in the family ever called authorities to warn them about Darryl Kenney's alleged plans. Neither Darryl's mother or sister have been accused of any wrong-doing, but both have retained attorneys and could challenge attempts to testify on Darryl Kenney's behalf.

Darryl Kenney's defense attorney said just because he subpoenaed the relatives doesn't mean he will necessarily put them on the witness stand, but it remains an option.

Sharom Myers

2011-03-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Re: A Central-Florida woman, 47-year-old Sharon Myers, has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and armed burglary for what police say was her role in coercing her son into killing his father.

VIERA, Fla. -- Throughout Darryl Kenney's murder trial last October, his defense attorney painted a picture of a loving son expertly manipulated by his mother into killing his father.A jury of 12 didn't buy it. They convicted the 24-year-old of first-degree murder.Now, the alleged architect of the patricide is being charged.Homicide agents with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office arrested Sharon Myers on Tuesday after a grand jury indicted her on charges of first-degree premeditated murder and armed burglary.Myers, 47, of Viera, works at a Merritt Island credit union and was arrested without incident about 4:30 p.m."The investigators in this case have pieced together Sharon Myers' conspiracy from the moment her previous husband's body was discovered," Cmdr. Doug Waller told Local 6 News partner Florida Today. "The evidence demonstrated how she methodically manipulated her child as he sat in prison awaiting release. It was simply a matter of time until all of the pieces fell into place to enable an arrest."Defense attorney Randy Moore with the public defender's office urged jurors to use common sense during Darryl Kenney's murder trial, saying it was vital to know what was going on in Kenney's mind when he gunned down his father with a friend in 2008.Moore said it should have been Kenney's mother on trial. Moore said Myers wrote hundreds of letters to her son while he was in prison, detailing physical abuse against her and an attempted sexual molestation of his sister -- allegations Moore said were not true."Someone is feeding this information to Darryl while he is in prison," Moore said during closing arguments in October. "We have a young man that has come to the conclusion that this man was abusing his mother and tried to rape his sister. What was going through his mind when these acts were committed? Don't you know what was going on in his head?"Darryl Kenney shot and killed his father, Gary Kenney, at his Merritt Island home on Venetian Way in June 2008, only four days after the son's release from prison. He had served time for grand theft, burglary and aggravated battery. Kenney put seven bullets into his father's back as he tried to walk away from their confrontation.During Darryl Kenney's trial, it was revealed that he had written a letter to a sheriff's agent complaining about the abuse his mother and sister were suffering and that the defendant had a passion to "protect his mother and sister."Weeks after his conviction, Darryl Kenney contacted the Sheriff's Office about his mother's involvement.According to excerpts of the letters obtained from the Sheriff's Office, Myers complained to her son constantly about her abusive husband."Darryl, I just want to tell you that I have had some really bad thoughts lately and even thought about acting on them," she wrote in one letter. "Do you know anyone who could help me with Gary? I hope so."In other letters, she wrote:"I want my problem to go away, but I do not want you to spend more time in.""What I really want is for Gary to go away forever.""Can you contact the guy you said gets out in a month? Son, I am so tired of it. I am about ready to do it myself and not sure how though.According to the case report, Darryl Kenney then told investigators his mother rented a hotel room for him on Merritt Island for a few days and discussed how to get rid of the body. She told him where he could find his father's guns at his grandfather's house. She also loaned her son his father's truck so he could pick up accomplice Rubin Nero. After the murder, Darryl Kenney told investigators he met his mother at Merritt Square Mall to tell her the nefarious deed had been carried out.She told him to dispose of the body. When he went back to the house, he was met by sheriff's deputies investigating the guns stolen from the grandfather's house.Investigators said they corroborated Darryl Kenney's claims, including one that said his mother used a phone given to her by the Department of Children and Families to orchestrate the murder. The phone had been given to her even though there were no findings that supported her claims of physical and sexual abuse.Nero, who had met Darryl Kenney while in prison, was convicted of first-degree murder late last year. Prosecutors said Nero stabbed and slashed Gary Kenney.http://www.clickorlando.com/news/27211933/detail.html _________________ Do not resent growing old. Many are denied the privilege.

A Comment

2011-03-16T06:11:00.000-07:00

This is a comment sent to the blog by an anonymous person.

I knew ALL along Sharon was behind it. Even before the murder, Sharon had been acting really weird and doing things unlike her normal behavior. You could also tell Gary knew something was up. Sharon all of a sudden lost a ton of weight, started going to the tanning bed, dressing more provocative, flirting with any man who passed her and drinking more. She wanted OUT of the marriage for her own selfish reasons. She would write Darryl pages and pages of who knows what out of nowhere and arounf thesame time her behavior changed. Right after Gary died she bought 2 brand new cars, sold his belongings and immediately started dating someone . You couldn't even tell she was upset at all about Gary being gone, all she did was brag about her new bf. It's all disgusting to me and.as much as I liked Sharon this makes me sick. I'm glad your family can have a little closure, I just hope Joshua and Amanda are cared for and welcomed because they are innocent.

2011-03-15T14:20:00.000-07:00

Mother charged with first-degree murder for role in coercing son to kill his father

Homicide agents with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office waited for a grand jury indictment earlier today before swooping in and arresting a Merritt Island woman they say coerced her son into killing his father.
Investigators arrested Sharon Myers, 47, [Sharon has remarried] in connection with her husband’s 2008 murder. She has been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and armed burglary.
Her son, 24-year-old Darryl Kenney, was convicted of the murder in October and sentenced to life in prison. His accomplice, Rubin Nero, also was sentenced to life. But throughout Kenney’s trial, defense attorneys pinned the blame on his mother. They said Myers worked her son into a murderous rage by sending him hundreds of letters detailing fictitious abuse against her and Darryl Kenney’s sister.
Public defender Randy Moore urged jurors to use common sense during the trial, saying it is vital to know what was going on in Kenney's mind when he gunned down his father only days after being released from prison.
He said it should have been Kenney's mother who should have been on trial.
"Someone is feeding this information to Darryl while he is in prison," Moore said during closing arguments in October. "We have a young man that has come to the conclusion that this man was abusing his mother and tried to rape his sister. What was going through his mind when these acts were committed? Don't you know what was going on in his head?"
Contact Torres at 242-3649 or jtorres@floridatoday.com

More About Gary

2010-11-20T02:33:00.000-08:00

I received a call on November Sixteenth from a fellow who had worked with Gary at the Space Center. He wanted to tell me that he had purchased a brick in Gary’s name in the memorial garden at the Cape Canaveral Space Visitor Center, he said it was in section five. We haven’t gotten up there to see it yet but will first chance we get.
He went on to tell me that he had talked to me at Gary’s funeral and told me all the help Gary had been to him. He told me that he had been having trouble with his air conditioner and Gary and Josh came up to his house and spent the whole day working on it at the end of the day he went out to get pizza for them, while he was gone his wife tried to give Gary $100.00 for working on he air conditioner, Gary didn’t want to take and she forced him to take it. After Gary left they got a phone call it was Gary he said are you on the phone in the den, look under the phone, the $100.00 bill that his wife had given him was there under the phone. Gary told him he fixed the air conditioner because he was a friend not for money.

Choose Sides

2010-11-06T09:36:00.000-07:00

Joshua 24:15

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

A nice Fathers day Post From Ron

2010-06-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Dad,
Thank you for sharing your heart on the blog on this two year anniversary of Gary's death. I can't think of Father's Day anymore without thinking of Gary and you. I lost a brother, but you lost a son. Now that I am a father and have sons of my own, I can only imagine what it must be like for you. I know that in this life the pain and hurt will always be felt and I often think that you will leave this world with many tears and a broken heart. But I am thankful that we can hold to the promise that God will wipe away all tears. He is the God of all comfort and I know that in the midst of the pain and heartache the Lord comforts you and Mom.
I can remember those days back in Pennsylvania when it was Gary that caused you and Mom much aggravation and caused turmoil to the rest of the family. I was just junior high kid on the other side of the wall lying on my bunk bed listening to you trying talk to Gary and get him to straighten up. I can still hear you telling him one night "Gary, it's like a broken arm, it's going to take time to heal." You and Mom remained unfaltering in your dedication and love for Gary. You tried to help him in every way possible. Many parents would have thrown in the towel and given up in the face of what seemed impossible to turn around. You did not see the problems, you saw the son you loved and knew what he could be. At that time who would have thought Gary would have ended up a talented Heavy Equipment mechanic and welder working for Kennedy Space Center. It would not have happened without the love and dedication from you and Mom. The Lord took you through it all.
Some years later, where did you end up living while back up North for the winter? You moved in over top of Gary's garage in the apartment that he built for that purpose. When you finally moved to FL permanently, which one of your sons followed you down there? Gary moved only 5 minutes away. When you needed things done around the house or fixed on the car, who would be there? It was Gary that was on the spot. Who would go with you if you wanted to browse the local flea market or pick through someone’s trash? Gary was there with enthusiasm. Gary's life and his dedication to you is a testament to what a great Dad you are.
Dad, this Sunday is Father’s Day. I’ll love the cards from my own children that will await me when I wake up. I will preach my Father’s Day message. I will enjoy the dinner when Denise cooks a favorite just for me. I will wish you the traditional Happy Father’s Day from over 1000 miles away. But in all that I do, my thoughts will be on you and Gary and that Father’s Day two years ago. I will be praying for God’s sustaining and never failing grace for you and Mom.
Love Ron
2Co 1:3 ¶ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; 4 Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

Two Year Anniversary of Gary’s Murder

2010-06-17T04:30:00.000-07:00

Two Year Anniversary of Gary’s Murder
Here we are, the second anniversary of Gary’s murder. Things haven’t changed much, we have never gone back to eat at Sonny’s Barbecue on Courtney Parkway since that fateful fathers day June 15th 2008 gathering there, to many bad memories.
We still miss Gary as much as ever, we still think he will stop here on the way home from work some day.
Rubin Nero’s trial hasn’t taken place yet, it was scheduled for
February and was postponed again.
June 16th will be the two year anniversary of Gary’s murder. The last time I saw Gary alive was Father’s Day June 15th. I’ll never forget that Fathers Day. This year Fathers Day falls on June 20th. Fathers day will be a reminder of Gary for the rest of my life. I thought I would be over Gary’s murder by this time, but I’m still not over it. This tragedy has affected everyone in the family in different ways.
Every time I am out in my car going somewhere and I see a place where Gary and I stopped for some reason, I think of Gary .
When I go past the Jumping Flea Market on Rt. 1, I remember Gary and me going there almost every Saturday after we went to the yard sales.When I drive down A1A, I look at the Dunkin-Donuts and remember, Gary picked me up after one of the hurricanes and we drove around looking at the damage, he stopped at Dunkin-Donuts and they came out and told him not to park there as the mansard roof was coming off and it might fall on his truck, I remember this every time I pass that Dunkin-Donuts.When I see some debris on the side of the road I think, Gary would stop and see what that is.Different neighborhoods had a different meaning to Gary, he never forgot where he had gotten some bargain, and always wanted to go back to yard sales there.
When we go to Port Canaveral I remember Gary taking Jack and me out fishing in his jet boat and wanting to go out into the ocean in that little boat, I talked him out of that one.Every time I see a motorcycle like Gary’s coming down Rt. 3 from the Space center in the afternoon or when I‘m at the pool or hear a motorcycle come into the park, I still think or look to see if it’s Gary.I just had to take my car to the mechanics shop for service, I thought to myself, Gary would have done that for me.
At night I wake up thinking of Gary, I stop and think of all the great preachers the Lord has seen fit to let me meet and hear, I try to think of all of their names and their messages and sometimes I can fall back to sleep.
Sometimes I get depressed when I think of these things, then I turn to the Lord who lost his son for no reason except for his love of sinful men, and say thanks Lord to the for the time you gave me with Gary.

A comment from Amanda;

I do that too: whenever I pass a motorcycle anywhere on the island actually, I always, always look to see if it's him. Well, I know it isn't I just want it to be so bad so I'll find something similar like "dads helmet was that color.." Or i pulled up next to this much older guy who looked was looking cool on his motorcycle like one dad had and he sat there and revved it like a hot shot the whole time to remind all the other cars what he had and that he would be out of there as soon as that light was green. Definitely dad. :)August 7, 2009 5:16 AM

2010-01-25T05:15:00.001-08:00

Dad,
That is a great birthday tribute to Gary. I can almost here us all singing a rousing "out of tune" rendition of happy birthday complete with Ceasar howling in the background.I love you and pray for you and Mom always.
Ron

2010-01-25T05:11:00.000-08:00

Gary’s BirthdayJanuary 22nd 2010
Today would have been Gary’s 53rd birthday, it’s been about 2 years and seven months since he was murdered, you were a good son Gary.
In this picture it looks like Gary’s celebrating his eleventh birthday.

Happy Birthday Gary, Love Mom & Dad.

I posted this as a comment, it also deserves a post alone.
Gary's Dad
Happy Birthday, Gary.
Gary is missed by so many people. Not a day will ever be the same in the lives of those Gary has touched. I was just thinking of him the other day. Kevin has a really bad oil leak in his car and we were just saying how Gary probably would have come up here to "diagnose" and fix Kevin's car if we would have asked him. It's amazing how Gary touched lives and we never knew it. My daughter, Angela, is one that has really surprised me. She has taken this whole thing so hard. You have to understand, Angela was a little over 11 when Gary was murdered and since we live in PA, she never really even saw Gary that much. I think maybe we visited him 3 or 4 times in FL. Can I tell you, she NEVER stops talking about him. She has a picture of him in her Bible, a picture on our refrig, one on her night table, and probably more that I am not even aware of. Gary impacted her so much the few times that we were together, that he left such a lasting imprint on her life. I can't believe the things that she remembers about time spent with Gary. Going down to the river, eating at IHOP, his working at NASA and things from there that he has sent my kids, and even his visit to us when he bought the motorcycle. We have talked about visiting family in FL later this year, she doesn't want to go because she knows she won't see Gary. She doesn't want to go to Cherie Downs because that was "our beach with Gary". The hardest thing with her is the bitterness that she has for those responsible. She would love nothing more than to give everyone involved a big, fat piece of her mind.

If there is one gift that I can give to Gary on this his 52nd birthday it would be to make my life count in the lives of others just as he did. Happy Birthday, Gary we love you and miss you, but we WILL see you again one day.

Love,
Cindy and family

2009-10-12T15:03:00.000-07:00

I Just came across these photos, I forgot about them. Jack came down from Michigan and was able borrow a sailboat, Jack, Gary and I went sailing from the Banana River out into the ocean. It was a very calm day on the ocean and we had a nice sail. We went through the locks on the barge canal under the draw bridge at the Air Force Base, through the Port and out into the ocean. We sailed down to Cocoa Beach then back home, a nice days sail.

Cocoa beach from the ocean
In the port

Jack & Me

Jack & Gary

Jack & Gary bridge opening

In the locks

Going into the locks

Captain Jack giving orders

Every day things I do still remind me of Gary

2009-07-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

Every day things I do still remind me of Gary.
Today I opened a bag of cheddar corn chips, as I was eating them and got closer to the bottom of the bag I remembered Gary loved Vinegar & Salt potato chips. He used to open them from the bottom because he said the most flavor was down there. When you get down the bottom which used to be the top, all the flavor left in the bag had dropped there. It works.

We had spaghetti for dinner, it reminded me that Gary liked to put everything between two pieces of bread or in a roll. When he would stop here on his way home from work Mom would always ask him to stay for dinner, if we were having spaghetti he would make a sandwich of it.

Today I was cutting the grass, when I was using the edger and weed whacker I remembered that Gary bought them both at yard sales and gave then to me. Whenever Gary was at yard sales and saw something that he thought Helen or I would want or need he would buy them and bring them over to us.

2009-06-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

Cindy said...
I will never forget the day that I got the news of Gary's death. I was at the Bill Rice Ranch in TN and my mom called around 10pm. We were in the middle of doing evening devotions and I kept hearing my phone buzz as I had it on vibrate. Never, ever did I expect to hear the news that was delivered. All I remember is screaming at the top of my lungs and dropping to the ground. I couldn't speak...at all!!! No one could ever understand this, but Gary was more like a brother (all of my cousins are more like siblings) to me than a cousin. I think of Gary all the time. I have his picture on my refrigerator and I will never forget him. The hardest thing for me is to have to watch my daughter day after day. Angela LOVED Gary. He made such an impact on her. To this date, she gets very mad if anyone even talks about the events of his death. Gary's death has changed my daughter forever. Darryl changed many lives with one bad decision. Aunt Helen and Uncle Jack, we pray for you all the time. We love you so much and cannot even begin to understand the pain and hurt you deal with on a day to day basis. The only good thing is that we know we will see him again one day. As far as anyone questioning your Christianity, they obviously are not familiar with the Bible and scripture. All they are doing is trying to justify the acts of a selfish and cowardly person. Amanda, I am glad that you check this blog every few days so that you can learn how your father impacted the lives of others. You are in my prayers also. Well I guess I have rambled on long enough. Gary I love you and miss you. We have lost you here on earth, but I like to look at it as your first anniversary on the streets of gold walking with our Saviour Jesus Christ.
June 24, 2009 2:01 PM

This is a comment from Mike Mycek's son, Mike was one of Gary's best friends.
alex mycek said...
Gary was an amazing guy.
I'm 14 years old and I've never EVER seen my dad (Mike Mycek) cry .It was heartbreaking for him .I pray for Gary every night . I wonder how he's doing in heaven .I remember when he lived in Delaware , my dad and I used to visit him all the time .They both got along very well , being grease monkeys & all . lol .My dad would call him atleast once a week . He'd never forget about him even after he moved hundred of miles away to Florida .I have no comment about Darryl's actions though .My mother and I were just talking about Darryl today . I hate bringing anything about Gary up around my dad , but I asked him about Darryl as a kid .He said Darryl went to church all the time . After he grew up everything kind of went down hill .He said he remembers a fewdays before Darryl got out of jail , Gary called him telling him about the movement of the guns .My dad was heartbroken when Sharon called him telling him the news .Just yesterday my dad said "Knowing Gary , I'd think any way of him dying would be a car crash or motorcycle accident. The way he died was the last way I'd think of him passing away"I think I've said enough . But I know all of you miss him along with my family . I'll be praying for him in heaven along with all of the Kenney family.
Love,Alex Mycek

goodandprofitable said...
Dad,Thanks for the moving blog post. I thought of Gary on several occasions when we were there for vacation. When we drove past the go-cart/arcade I remembered when Gary took me and Jeremy there, he gave the kids what seemed to be an endless supply of quarters. I pray for God's sustaining grace for you and Mom, and I will be praying especially hard over the next week.
Ron
June 9, 2009 10:08 AM

One Year Anniversary of Gary's Murder

2009-06-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

One Year Anniversary of Gary’s Murder
June 16th will be the one year anniversary of Gary’s murder. The last time I saw Gary alive was Father’s Day June 15th. I’ll never forget that Fathers Day. This year Fathers Day falls on June 21st. Fathers day will be a reminder of Gary for the rest of my life.
I thought I would be over Gary’s murder by this time, but I’m not.

Every time I am out in my car going somewhere and I see a place where Gary and I stopped for some reason, I think of Gary .
When I go past the Jumping Flea Market on Rt. 1, I remember Gary and me going there almost every Saturday after we went to the yard sales.
When I see some debris on the side of the road I think, Gary would stop and see what that is.
Different neighborhoods had a different meaning to Gary, he never forgot where he had gotten some bargain, and always wanted to go to yard sales there.
When I drive down A1A, I look at the Dunkin-Donuts and remember, Gary picked me up after one of the hurricanes and we drove around looking at the damage, he stopped at Dunkin-Donuts and they came out and told him not to park there as the mansard roof was coming off and it might fall on his truck, I remember this every time I pass that Dunkin-Donuts.
When we go to Port Canaveral I remember Gary taking Jack and me out fishing in his jet boat and wanting to go out into the ocean in that little boat, I talked him out of that one.
Every time I see a motorcycle like Gary’s coming down Rt. 3 from the Space center in the afternoon or when I‘m at the pool and hear a motorcycle come into the park, I still think or look to see if it’s Gary.
Every time there’s something wrong with my car I think, Gary would have that fixed by now.
Sometimes I get depressed when I think of these things, then I turn to the Lord who lost his son for no reason except for the love of sinful men, and say thanks Lord to the for the time you gave me with Gary.
Psm 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Joel 2:26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed.
Gary’s Dad

A comment from Amanda;

2009-04-04T05:36:00.000-07:00

Gary at Amanda's Graduation

You can see how troubled he is.

Gary, Ron & Craig at 50th anniversary party at Lobster Shanty.

Gary, Me and his Brothers at Our 50th Anniversary

If you would, please leave a comment or just your name when you visit.
I would like to know who visits.
Thanks, Gary's Dad

Look at the difference in Gary in these two pictures, he was going through a lot of family problems in the last days of his life.

New Pictures of Gary

2009-02-28T09:46:00.000-08:00

SOME NEW PICTURES OF GARY I CAME ACROSS

Gary [King of the house] and me talking in his family room

Were coming back from looking at the sailboat we're on Wayne's dock.

Al Harpers wife Jenny visiting Gary.

The last vehicle Gary bought for Darryl, before this one he had bought an older Mercury that Darryl wrecked and abanded at the side of the road gary had to junk it, this truck Darryl left home with and it was never seen again. No one knows what happened to it.

Gary taking Helen and me to Port Canaveral to go on a cruise.

2009-01-24T13:05:00.000-08:00

I received this e-mail from a young man that Gary was friends of their family when he lived in Delaware, they went to the same Church we all went to, First Baptist Church of Frederica.
It is so nice I asked his permission to post it on the Blog.

John,

Hello. I hope you and your family are doing well. I was deeply saddened to hear of Gary's death. He was an admirable person and somebody who I will always remember for his kindness and distinct personality. I feel it is safe to say that the entire Rowley family would agree with me.

Gary although he probably did not know it, was a huge influence in my life as a teenager. My family attended church in Frederica the same time as Gary. Gary and my Father Bob Rowley were friends. My father often consulted with Gary when he needed advice on things like do-it-yourself auto repairs or small engine fixes. Gary always seemed to know what was wrong where others were stumped and was always willing to help. As a teenager I was impressed with his knowledge of such things and took an interest in trying to fix things myself. Many years later I am still an amature but credit what I do know to Gary. My father bought me my first car when I was 16 and it needed a few very expensive repairs. The repairs them self would cost more money in labor than the car was worth. Gary agreed to fix the car provided we got the parts he needed. A new clutch, timing belt and various other things and my first car was ready for the inspection lane. I learned two things from Gary that day. The first is that he probably had better things to do with his time than to be fooling around with my junk car yet he helped anyway. When I am able to help somebody and am not sure if I am willing I always think of how Gary fixed my first car. The second I learned that day was not to be afraid to try things myself. Two years later I joined the Air Force and spent 4 1/2 years fixing the C-5's at Dover Air Force Base. The picture in the photo on your blog my be a plane that I later did work on. It is reasonable to say that Gary indirectly worked on those aircraft through inspiring me to do it. Who knows how many other people that Gary inspired or influenced. Things like that don't always come to be discovered but I believe there are probably many other people who have similar memories of Gary. I ran into Gary a few times though out the years I was stationed in Delaware. I was always happy to see him. If there is anything I can ever do to help a friend or family member of Gary's please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Brent Rowley
Havelock, NC

2009-01-20T05:28:00.000-08:00

Gary’s Birthday
January 22nd 2009 would have been Gary’s 51st birthday, it’s been about seven months since he was murdered, you were a good son Gary.
In this picture it looks like Gary’s celebrating his eleventh birthday.
Happy Birthday Gary, Love Mom & Dad.

THE LAST TIME I SAW GARY ALIVE

2009-01-15T04:32:00.000-08:00

The last time I saw Gary Alive, Sunday June 15th [Fathers Day], Gary made arrangements to meet us [Helen and Me] at Sonny’s Barbeque on Merritt Island to give me my fathers day gift, with his family. We had a pleasant lunch and met others whom we know from church and had fellowship with them. Gary did not know that Darryl was out of prison, we didn’t know either, the only time I locked my doors when I went out was when Darryl was out of prison. I do now, my life has been changed for the worse.Helen asked sharon if she had heard from Darryl, she said "no".Monday June 16th Helen went into the closet to get something and noticed that the guns that Gary had stored here because he was afraid of Darryl breaking into his house and getting the guns as he had several times previously.We wanted to get in touch with Gary at work but were told by Sharon that we couldn’t because he was out in the field. We wanted to ask Gary if he had come to our house and retrieved the guns. Helen called Gary at home repeatedly and around 5:00 PM he finally called us back when he got home from work. I told him the guns were missing and he told me that he hadn’t taken them and to call the police. I called the Merritt Island Sheriff’s office and they sent a Deputy to our house. I gave the deputy the serial numbers of the guns that were stolen, while I was talking to the deputy Gary called to tell me his truck was missing. I told the deputy that he would be receiving a call about a brown Ford truck that was stolen.The deputy said even though I was the victim of the crime, he had to talk to Gary because he was the owner of the guns. I gave him Gary’s phone number and he left, he called a few minutes later and asked I had another number he could reach Gary at because he didn’t answer the phone I told him that was the only number Gary had and he said “I’ll have to go to his house and talk to him. If you read the newspaper article in this blog you know the rest of the story.

2009-01-11T11:35:00.001-08:00

A Stop At The Cemetery
Denise and Ray bought a Southern Magnolia tree to be planted in Gary’s name at our new church building while they were down here for Gary’s funeral.
http://www.fbcsb.org/index.html
The plaques were put on the memorial trees at our new church building this week, Helen and I took some pictures.

On the way home from church today we decided to stop at the cemetery for the first time and I took some pictures, very sad. Amanda must have been there and left this photograph.

This is a picture taken at Amanda's graduation, Gary was always bragging to me and every else I'm sure, how smart she is. She is, always getting A's on her report cards.

2008-12-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-12T04:35:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

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

2008-09-26T18:10:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-28T10:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-01T11:54:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-30T05:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-26T14:23:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-22T08:45:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-22T08:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-19T06:34:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-18T12:41:00.000-07:00

Thoughts fron Gary's Nephew Jason

2008-07-18T12:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-17T05:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-17T04:58:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T11:53:00.000-07:00

Garys Job At Kennedy Space Center

2008-07-16T11:16:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-16T05:16:00.000-07:00

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

AT THE MEMORIAL SERVICE

2008-07-15T13:02:00.000-07:00

THANKS EVERONE
We want to sincerely thank everyone for the sacrifices they made to be with us during our time of grief. All of our family who interrupted their lives to support us in our grief, and are still supporting us with their care and calls.
Thanks to all our friends here at Island Lakes and our church families that came to our aid and had the memorial service here at the clubhouse.
I know that Gary’s brothers and sister and her husband Ray had to sacrifice and drop everything to come to Florida at a moments notice.
Also Helens brother, Al Harper and his family thanks for coming down to be with us and comfort us. Helens sister Pat and her daughter Cindy thanks.
Gary’s best friend Mike who came from Delaware to be with us, we enjoyed his fellowship and memories of Gary.
We received so many cards of sympathy, Gary’s nephew Jason who received a lot of support for his work in Chile thanks all of you, Jason has been sending a letter of thanks to all of the people that he has an address for, I hope there hasn’t been anyone missed.

Below are some pictures taken at the memorial service.

GARY YOU ARE MISSED

2008-07-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Gary was more than a son to me, he was a great friend, always ready to help me with anything that was wrong around the house. My car hasn't been to a mechanic for twenty years, Gary always took care of anything that was wrong with it, I hesitated to tell him about noises I heard in my car because he would insist on looking at it right then.
His mother and I will miss more than words can tell.
This tragedy that happened is still like a bad dream, but we will not wake up from it. Gary has had it bad this last year, but he's at peace now.

No one’s life truly ends with his death.
The lives of the deceased are completed in the imaginations and spirits of those who love them.

GARYS SALVATION
About thirty years ago Helen and I accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior. Our children followed in salvation us one by one, we think Gary was the first one to get saved after us.
Gary always had a problem with how people perceived him, when he went to church if someone made a comment he didn’t like he would stop going for a while. As a result he didn’t go to church regularly. When he moved to Delaware he started to go to church more often, he started going to the First Baptist Church of Fredericka, he really liked Pastor Ingram and Don La Duc whom he was good friends with.
One Sunday morning he came to church in shorts [he saw nothing wrong with this] and a woman in the church commented “ we come to church in shorts now?” that was the last time Gary came to church regularly.
I asked him about his salvation and he told me he was sure he was saved, I told him that he doesn’t show it, he assured me he was saved. I tried to talk him out of his salvation but couldn’t. If good works could get us to heaven [we know they can't] Gary would go, he was always helping someone, but if he thought you were taking advantage of him he was done with you.
I feel that Gary was saved even he didn’t have the marks we look for in a saved person, only the LORD knows for sure who is saved and who is not.

No one expects to pass away at a young age, but it happens. You must prepare for this eventuality, take the time to open a bible and look up these verses.
1- John 3:7 - Ye must be born again, read from verse 3:1 to 3:21
2- Romans 3:23 - All have sinned and come short of the glory of God
3- Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
4- John 1:12 - But as many received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them who believe on his name
5- Revelation 3:20 - Behold I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me
If you want any more help with this, E-Mail me with your questions at jkenneyjr@yahoo.com

Gary We Appreciated You
When you have a bunch of kids you never know if you are raising them right, or how they feel about you.
Gary always thought very highly of me, Helen always told me how much Gary loved me. Gary and I went through a lot together. I remember one father’s day Gary gave me a shirt that had on the front “# 1 DAD” I wore it occasionally and didn’t think much about it till one day at work a woman I didn’t know looked at the shirt and asked if I was # 1 dad?, I said “I don’t think so” but I guess my son thinks so. That got me thinking about how I thought about my Dad and how my kids thought about me.
We are born self centered and selfish, we don’t appreciate our parents till we grow up. Some people take longer than others to grow up. Just as I would like to have my Mom and Dad here to tell them how much I appreciate them and love them, I would like to have Gary back to tell him much I appreciated and loved him for all the things he did for us. I know that isn’t possible so I’ll just keep on adding to this blog as I think of things about Gary.
We had five children all of them were different, we would miss any one of them as much as we do Gary. All of our children have been good to us, but Gary living so close to us meant that we spent a lot of time with him. It’s the way Gary died that is so hard to take, it was so unnecessary. If he had died in a car accident or a work related accident it would easier to get over his death. Gary had several serious accidents any one of them could easily have caused his death. But this incident was so preventable.
We never expected to lose Gary at this young age, every one expects their children to outlive them, but it doesn’t always happen that way, since this has happened so many people have told me of tragedies that happened in their families, so take care to appreciate your loved ones while you still have them. This tragedy isn’t over yet there’s more to come, it may take a few years, keep watching.

Ray,Craig,Jack,Gary's Friend Mike and Ron

2008-07-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

Left to right, Ray, Craig, Jack, Mike,
And Ron

GARY AND HIS MOTORCYCLES

2008-07-15T08:56:00.000-07:00

Gary always had a motorcycle, just recently he had three motorcycles and two ATV'S at the same time. He had a couple of off road cycles and loved to go out in the woods and ride all day. He took the Yamaha to Georgia and rode Deals Gap where he dumped it. He told me it was a winding mountain road that you tried to go up or down as fast as you could.

Garys First motorcycle, the first decent one.

Gary bought this motorcycle when he lived in Delaware, it is a 1200cc Sportster customized.

This was the last Rice Burner, Wrist Rocket Motorcycle Gary had, he loved this motorcycle and spent hours riding it, polishing it and taking care of it.

Gary liked this motorcycle that he bought from Kevin, his cousin Cindys husband, he rode it to work every day, weather permitting. It was a very dependable ride .