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Honoring Ken |
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(Jan 25, 1933 - Jul 21, 2001) Newspaper Announcement | Eulogy | Ken's Gallery
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(by Diane E Babcock) His legacy is as handsome as the man himself. A man who passionately studies to ripen his talents He'll entertain you with what he's learned And spark the dormant dreams in all of us. A playful soul with more than a lick of compassion For a baby raccoon even, orphaned by a tree that has fallen. This cowboy treats his horse like a friend who rides with him And his family and friends are all brothers and sisters. I think you're starting to get the picture. Now…Picture Ken, the artist His paintbrush poised above the canvas As if it's waiting for instructions from the master. What does this man want to reflect in his dabbles and strokes? His handiwork reveals a skillfully embedded mirror in the scenery So that you might see yourself in his work. Learn from the craftsman Who shapes a piece of wood And sands it contentedly for hours. Then wraps wire strings around metal posts for the head He pulls them taught down the neck and secures them across the body. With calculated tightening of the wires He refines a multitude of harmonies And the wood has been transformed into a steel guitar…"dobro" to be precise. Listen to the musician as he plays. The plucking of strings with a guitar pick And the gliding of steel across wire Make an exotic twang of a sound. The entertainer muses upon a melody About something that impassions him. When the song is ready he plays it for you And you are rapt in resonating rhythms. That is a gift from the player. If you want to watch Ken work Learn to walk straight uphill In the middle of a valley that doesn't have a name. Go into the bunkhouse Where he shakes the mountain dust off his boots. He'll be crafting some leather Or jamming with "moon" and "potlicker" As they ramble on about life outside the valley. The prospector will show you how to scrape a rock To identify the composition of ores and minerals. Some days he'll be gossiping about gold mines And tattling of their whereabouts. He'll have you feverish for treasure. Sometimes…he sounds like a dreamer When he talks about gold mines. Perhaps it's another bear story...you think. Don't doubt these gold mines are there…though And he knows how to stake a claim if he wants to. But…Ken also knows where the real gold is… And that is his legacy.
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On Saturday, July 21, 2001 much-loved Kenneth Babcock attained peace with God in his home and surrounded by his family after an intense fight with cancer. Ken is lovingly remembered by his devoted wife, Priscilla (Sally); children: Diane Babcock, Wenda Lea (Wendy) Klatt, Chester Lines, Helena Lines, Elona Babcock, Jobey Babcock; grandchildren: Tyler (Diane) - Cali, Dalyce & Dusti (Wendy) – Ashley, Jessica (Chester) – Loren, Chyna (Helena) – Kristin (Elona); and brothers & sisters: Helen Parkin, Celia Fulla, Vada Selfe, Howard Babcock, Grace Magrum, Elvie Hunter, and Hunter Babcock. He has over 35 nieces & nephews to adore him as well as his long-time friends that he laughingly addresses as “moon” or “kid” or “potlicker”. Ken’s
constant love for his family & friends, his affection for animals
(tame & wild), his inspirational steel guitar music, his talent for
carving a piece of wood or anything into a piece of art or a musical
instrument, and his eagle-eye for color & texture in his paintings
gives this prospector his stake for a claim in a life well-lived and
joyfully remembered. Reception
to honor Ken’s life will be held at the residence of 179 King Road
(access off Jingle Pot near the Parkway) on Wed, July 25 from 2 – 5PM
with open mike from 3 – 4. His ashes will be interred beside his
mother in Courtenay. In lieu of flowers, donations please to the SPCA, the Red Cross, or the Canadian Cancer Society. |
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