Kenneth DeFord
Ken DeFord went home to be with Jesus on December 14, 2016. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on May 22, 1933. His family moved to Kansas City, Missouri when Ken was about two where he graduated from East High School in 1952. Ken joined the U.S. Navy and spent four years serving as a radio operator on a small aircraft carrier doing service in the Korean War. After the Navy Ken attended the University of Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy (now Missouri University School of Engineering) in Rolla, Missouri graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering. He later graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison, New Jersey with a Master’s Degree in Mathematics. Ken met and married Edna Norman DeFord from Mexico, Missouri in September 1959 and then continued his education at Rolla. They continued on an adventure as he hired on with Western Electric, Winston Salem, North Carolina as a Research Engineer and was immediately transferred to Bell Laboratories in Whippany, New Jersey. He later moved with the Bell System for assignments to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico (living in El Paso, Texas) back to Bell Laboratories in New Jersey (three different times), Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, back to the East Coast for assignments at Madison, New Jersey, New York City, Newark, New Jersey and Piscataway, New Jersey. Ken was the Chairman of the Hope Baptist Church Building Committee where he and Edna worked to build a church building for their congregation. Ken did all the electrical work and spent many hours completing the insides of the building. He retired in December 1994 from a 35 year career with the AT&T Bell System (retired from Bell Communications Research, now the Erikson Company). Ken and Edna took possession of their retirement home in PebbleCreek in February 1995 and moved permanently from New Jersey in November 1995. In December 1995 they were one of the six founding couples of the PebbleCreek Community Church where he has served faithfully. Ken loved to play golf but was curtailed by his health a few years ago so spent many delightful times playing Bridge, Bocce, RV Club, Wood Carving and many other things at PebbleCreek. He and Edna spent a summer semester teaching English as a Second Language at a University in western China in 1999. At age 79 he spent a year teaching Math at a Charter High School and then moved up to Estrella Mountain Community College where he was able to share his love of Math to teach young college students. This was one of the highlights of his life to share his knowledge to the young people. Ken and Edna enjoyed traveling with many friends, going on Mission trips and sharing the love of God in different ways. They have been to over 30 countries but love the U.S.A. best. Ken and Edna have two sons, Edward who lives in Hull, Massachusetts and David who resides in Hackettstown, New Jersey. He was the youngest of 10 children and all of his siblings have preceded him in death. Ken loved Jesus, life and quietly serving the Lord. He was much loved and will be missed by his family and friends.
A graveside service was held December 21, 2016 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix, Arizona. Condolences for the family may be left at www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com.
Mary-Jo Klackel
Mary-Jo Klackle, 84, passed away peacefully on January 26, 2017. Mary-Jo was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on April 2, 1932. She is survived by her loving husband of 66 years, Billy; sister Sue; sons, Mike, Scott, Kurt and Chris; daughter-in-laws, Candy, Laura, Joy and Lisa; 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Mary-Jo loved all of her family and went out of her way to keep in touch with them.
She was a working mother and retired from her real estate career at PebbleCreek in 2007. Mary-Jo enjoyed a full life filled with friends and family and various hobbies, sports, clubs, and causes. She traveled the world and loved adventures, exploring new places and meeting new people. She loved to talk and laugh, surrounded by family and friends. She will be missed by all of us. There will be a memorial service on February, 18 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Presbyterian Church, 925 N Sarival Ave, Goodyear, AZ 85338. Phone: 623-882-0721. Donations can be made to: PebbleCreek Kare Bears http://www.karebears.org/returns-donations.html; Disabled Veterans https://www.dav.org/ or Autism Society http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/donate/.
Lawrence (Larry) Myers
Lawrence (Larry) Myers, a PebbleCreek winter resident, passed away November 29, 2016 in North Dakota after his intense battle with cancer.
Larry and his beloved spouse Ruthie came every year from their home in Bismarck, North Dakota to enjoy PebbleCreek’s wonderful weather, activities and social life.
Larry was an excellent marksman and an avid hunter. He won many North Dakota Championships in Trap, Skeet and Sporting Clays. In 1988 he was inducted into the North Dakota Trapshooting Hall of Fame. In PebbleCreek Larry belonged to the PebbleCreek Gun Club and was active in the Robson Trap Trials in which PebbleCreek took first place for four straight years.
In the first year of organized softball at PebbleCreek (1997), Larry played for Wong’s Restaurant and continued to play for several more years. Many happy days were spent with his golfing buddies on various courses and after, at the 19th hole.
Larry was a lover of the land and was a Johnny Appleseed, planting more than 50,000 trees in his lifetime.
He is survived by his beloved wife Ruthie of 29 years, seven children, four stepchildren, 18 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Remembrances may be sent to Ruth Myers, 4420 37th Avenue South, Apartment 712, Fargo, North Dakota 58104