In his 80th year, Kenneth (Ken) James Harley passed away peacefully on December 5th in the care of the Ottawa Hospital with family by his side. Ken was born on June 5, 1940 and raised in Selkirk, Manitoba. He attended university in Michigan and Winnipeg, where he received his B.A. in Political Science in 1965.
On June 20th, 1964, he married the love of his life and his best friend, Maxine Scott. They celebrated 55 years of wedded bliss just this past summer. Now, anyone who knew Ken knew of his love for adventure and travel. After spending a year with CUSO in Jamaica, he joined External Affairs on June 6, 1966 (6-6-66). This started a lifetime of wandering the world with his family in tow. They had postings in Cypress, Cuba, Trinidad, Peru, Washington, and Barbados. This doesn’t come close, though, to listing the dozens of countries he visited as part of his duties.
Retirement in 1997 continued the travels, especially to warmer climates, but he also got involved in many, many extracurricular activities, both before and after. He was active with the Antique Car Club, Masonic Lodge, Shriners (where he learned to “fly” planes!), Scottish Rite, Scouts, school boards, and the naval reserves. He also loved to golf, sail, research genealogy, and deliver Meals on Wheels.
Ken is survived by his loving wife Maxine; children Kym (Dan Cardinal), Debra (Rod Penney) and Kevin (Jane Chipman); and two grandchildren who were the lights of his life - Conor and Maya. Not to mention the numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins, and the “just like family” neighbours and friends.
Friends and family are invited to visit at Beechwood Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services, 280 Beechwood Ave. Ottawa, on Tuesday, December 10 from 12:30 p.m. until the time of a Masonic Service at 1:30 p.m. which will be followed by a Funeral Service at 2 p.m. Interment and reception will follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Ottawa Heart Institute or the Cancer Society.
Digital Guestbook
Lois Peters (Geraldine Heppner's daughter)
Paulette and Gilles RENE
To Manine and family, we have been sorry to hear about Ken's passing a month ago. We offer you our most sincere condolences. Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time.
We have met Ken's family some 30 years ago when we worked together at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C.. We will miss his annual letter at the time of Christmas greetings. Ken was really proud of his family.
Sincerely
John McCombs
I had a roommate at Michigan Tech 1960-61 named Kenneth James Harley who lived a 222 Brittania, Selkirk, Manitoba. I remember that information since he was not returning to Tech the next year and let me have several pieces of identification so I could get into the bars down here. I'm curious if this is the same person. Ken was a very funny guy and had been a marksman shooter in something like the Queen's Scouts. If this gets to any of his family..I am sure he's missed and was the good friend, if only for a year.
Maxine, so sorry to hear of Ken's illness and passing. I enjoyed reading your yearly Christmas letters to my mom and I know she considered him more of a brother than cousin. I know he'll leave a big hole in your lives.