Long awaited time in the sun to remember Ken

This is my entire family, at sunset on Casey Key, Florida. Just before Ken died in September of 2020, he asked that our entire family gather at our house.  He was very clear that everyone needed to be there - including the grandchildren.  He carefully told us all exactly what his wishes were upon his death and just how he wanted us to remember him.  He asked that we go, as a family, to his very favorite spot - Casey Key, Florida.  So many of his best, early memories were from that location.  He had so many wonderful times with his Grandma and Grandpa Baker, who lived just inland from Casey Key.  His family had been going to Casey Key since the early 1950's to vacation and his grandparents made it home in the late 1950's after retirement.  After this family meeting, Ken told me that his biggest regret was that we had never taken the family to Casey Key.  Even though we traveled often to Florida, we never made this a destination. Several times we spent a day or stopped on our way to a different location.  So even for me, this was a new experience.  

These are some early pictures of Ken on Casey Key.  In the top picture, Ken is around 2 years old.   The second picture is of Grandma Baker and a slightly older Ken (along with a cousin) sitting on Casey Key Beach.  The next photo is Ken at probably 5 or 6 years old, fishing on the beach.  The bottom photo is Doug, fishing on that same beach.  Like father, like son.

Our week on Casey Key was spent in a true fantasy home that was like being at a fancy resort.  There was room for everyone, four glorious balconies (two sunrise and two sunset) - it was so much more than I expected.  There was a pool and hot tub plus a three hole putting green, which the kids adored.

The home included a private walkway to the beach as well as a waterfront dock on the bay side.  

We had so many wonderful times on the beach, in the pool, eating dinners together and playing games.  Needless to say, the days were long and the amount of pictures taken staggering!  It is really hard to select just a few to really remember the time.

We swam at the beach everyday.  We swam in the pool everyday.  We walked the beach at sunset.  Everyone looked for shells and sharks teeth.  And Doug fished.  We ate lots of good food.  We celebrated Gwen's birthday (which happened to fall in the middle of the week) We took a special trip to Ken's favorite restaurant, Pop's Sunset Grill. 

We only had two brief periods of rain during the entire time we were on Casey Key (other than the night we arrived in a really big rain storm).  Both short rains brought glorious rainbows.  One we saw on the beach and the other we saw over the bay.  

 This was certainly a memorable trip for me.  It was truly the best way to celebrate and remember Ken.   I just imagined all of the photo's he would have been taking. I spent a great deal of time just thanking God.  What an amazing legacy Ken and I have in our family.  Even now, looking back on this trip, I can see God's provision in so many ways.  First, the location was perfect.  I had looked for over 7 months, trying to find a home big enough to work for all of us. Then finding one available at a time that we could all do.  It was a Christmas miracle when the host of this home emailed me that they had a few weeks of cancelations.  This week worked for all of us.  Things just fell into place.  All of our travel worked out well.  No one was sick during (or before) the trip. Everyone had an amazing time.  

On one of the last days of our time on Casey Key, I asked the kids to take a drive to see Grandma and Grandpa Baker's house.  The most "God-incident" happened as we were parked in the street across from this house.  Doug's car was blocking a driveway and the women who lived in that house, Michelle,  asked what we were doing.  It turns out that she is the 4th generation of her family living in her house.  Her family knew the Baker's well and also knew the Meddock family (Ken's great uncle Charlie) that lived next door.  Since her dad was born in 1946 and always lived in that house, I am sure that he would remember Ken. Michelle said that it certainly must have been God that told her to turn around and go home when she was out running some errands that day.  If she wouldn't have done that, I would not have met her.  I promised to send her some of the pictures I have of this house, over the years and also some photos of Versal and Les Baker and Charlie and Elva Meddock. It felt like such a real connection to Ken and his grandparents.  The first time I saw this house was in May of 1976.  Ken and I traveled to Florida for Grandpa Baker's funeral.  So it seemed fitting that I saw this house again, in 2022 during a trip to celebrate Ken's life.  

We took the entire crew to the jetty.  Ken's very favorite spot.  As usual, it was really crowded there.  But we stopped to remember Ken.  Susie had written this poem to honor Ken, and she shared it here.

A man of few words.

Who loved fiercely and immensely.

He could make you smile 

And cared so much for family.

Tee shirt, shorts and tall socks

a typical attire

Friends, old and new

He always did admire

Riding his motorcycle 

around the great United States,

and after a long while,

a Miata was also great.

At family get togethers

a nap he liked to take.

But you always knew his joy for you

by the smile on his face.

Food, ah food

a most definite favorite of his.

Cheeseburger, steak, hot dog, meat

And don't forget the cheese whiz!

Being a grandpa 

was such a wonderous joy.

I've never seen him happier,

Although he seemed a bit coy

Going to the beach

And sitting in the sand. 

Taking travels with Grandma

And walking hand in hand.

As I sit here now

looking at the ocean,

I remember him so fondly. 

I wish I had a magic potion.

He lives in heaven now

with so many that went before.

I hope they are partying hard

In the land of forevermore.

In Loving memory of Kenneth Alan Rowley - by Susie Rowley

Ken's last trip to Casey Key and the Jetty in January of 2019.