Bayley, Kenneth
April 30, 1914 - May 4, 2002
Ken Bayley, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, passed away peacefully on Saturday morning, May 4, 2002 Ea-gleview ECU, Comox. Dad, at 88 years young, had enjoyed a wonderful long life. He possessed a most incredible will to live and joie de vivre, considering he survived six major surgeries during his life. And up until the last three days of his life he still managed that wonderful smile and sparkle in his eye that endeared him to so many people.
Born in Lundar, Manitoba on April 30, 1914 to Philip and Kate Bayley (Lay). Dad, nicknamed 鈥淐hum鈥� by his father, was the youngest of 6 children (two died in infancy due to illness), Victor (1908-1992), Stanley (Mike) (1910-1935), Phyllis (Babe) (1912), and Dad. Around 1921, Grandma Bayley moved the family from the farm in Lundar to Winnipeg and opened a boarding house to raise money to feed her young family. During this time Dad attended school and graduated from Daniel MacIntyre High School in Winnipeg. Following high school and commercial college he began working for the City of Winnipeg as a clerk and eventually when the Second World War broke out he volunteered to serve Canada in the Royal Canadian Air Force in June of 1942. During his time in the RCAF he was posted in Dafoe, Saskatchewan and Summerside, PEI where he was a gunnery instructor. He was discharged in December 1945 with the rank of Sargeant. It was there in the maritimes that he met Mom, a 鈥淣ova Scotia girl鈥�. They were soon married, and Mom and Dad and Mom鈥檚 small son, Graham, moved back to Winnipeg to raise a family and return to work for the City. After approximately 40 years of working for the City of Winnipeg, he retired from his job as Superintendent of the Waterworks Department. Dad, a proud, strong family man and dedicated Christian, also found time in his busy life for activities other than work and was much involved with Free Masons and First Presbyterian Church (Wpg.). Dad also had a passion for gardening as was reflected in their yard that bloomed every year with rhododendrons of every color. Many wonderful summers were also spent at our summer cottage Dad built at Gull Lake, Manitoba. Another favorite pastime of Dad and Mom was square dancing. I sometimes went along to watch them. Oh how they loved to dance!
Following his retirement Dad and Mom lived for short times in High River, Alberta, Victoria, B.C., Campbell River, B.C., and eventually settled for the past 15 years in Courtenay, B.C.. Dad was a very likeable, kind, and sociable person who was well known around Courtenay. A man of strong Christian values he found wonderful solace walking his dog for hours. Mom always complained that Dad would go downtown for a litre of milk and would be gone for hours obviously socializing!
He leaves behind Frances, his wife of 57 years, son Graham Bayley (Catherine) Vancouver, daughter Carolyn Titus (Leonard) Campbell River, his sister Phyllis Ross (Bayley), Ninette, Manitoba, grand-daughter, Jessica Bayley, Vancouver, grandsons, Steven Meyer, Edmonton, Scott Meyer, Vancouver, nephew, Don Ross (Sandy), Winnipeg, nieces, Karen Cummings (Jim), Cartwright, Man., Marilyn Kittle (Bayley) Auburn, Wash., and Geraldine McKay, New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.
The family wishes to thank the caring and compassionate staff of Eagleview ECU, Comox for taking wonderful care of Dad in the final two days of his life. If he were here today, I know he would like to say, 鈥淕od bless you all鈥�.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the SPCA or charity of your choice in his name, as he loved all animals great and small.
A memorial service will be held at Piercy鈥檚 Funeral Home, Courtenay, Tuesday, May 14, 2002, 11:00 a.m. Rev. Peter Parker officiating.
There is a time for everything, and a season
for every activity under heaven:
A time to be born and a time to die,
A time to plant and a time to uproot,
A time to kill and a time to heal,
A time to tear down and a time to build,
A time to weep and a time to laugh,
A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4