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Ken Byles passed away peacefully on May 25, 2023, under the wonderful and compassionate care of the staff at Amica Little Lake.
Helen Byles, Ken’s wife, was the recipient of his devoted love and adoration. Helen predeceased Ken in July 2020. Ken will be lovingly remembered and missed by his children Cindy (Jim), John (Karen), and Nancy (Vincent) and by his grandchildren and great grandchildren John (Jaclyn) , Beck, Daley (Amy), Annie, Timothy, Ciaran, Matthew, Gordon, Joan and Bruce. Ken was predeceased by his brother Don (Ethel) and his sister Dorothy(Dave).
Ken was born in Napanee, Ontario in June of 1929. The son of an OPP officer, Ken’s family moved several times taking him to Orillia for elementary school and then to Barrie, where he attended Barrie Central Collegiate.
Helen grew up in Rosseau and went to “Normal” school for teacher training in Peterborough and then taught in Toronto. Moving to Barrie to take a teaching position at King Edward Public School, Helen met Ken at the Barrie badminton club.
They married in August of 1955 and enjoyed 65 years of a great marriage filled with fun, travel, dear friends, and service to their community.
As a teenager, Ken guided trout fishermen on Kempenfelt Bay during the summers, working for Delaney Boatworks which was located at the bottom of Mulcaster Street in Barrie. He was a Sea Cadet and had a lifelong passion for boats, both sail and motor. Ken was one of the initial group of members to join the Mount Jimmy Ski Club which later became Snow Valley. With his friends, Ken hunted and fished around Little Lake, which at the time, was a ‘lifetime’ away from Barrie, connected by only a dirt trail.
Ken began working at FK Machinery upon graduation from high school in 1948, buying the business in 1970. As a life-long problem solver, he enjoyed his business life as each day presented a new and different challenge that needed to be addressed. Ken’s industry knowledge and experience led him to serve on numerous advisory councils for the manufacturers FK Machinery represented.
As an amateur photographer, Ken met Bud Watson who owned ‘The Bud Watson Camera Shop in Midland’. Bud was in the process of trying to buy and convert the old YMCA building on Hugel Avenue in Midland into the “Bud Watson Gallery”. Ken became a donor to the effort and was proud of the outcome for Bud. (Please search Bud Watson photographer, his photos are stunning of Georgian Bay and area.)
A skilled wood worker, Ken made furniture and intricate jewelry boxes as well as producing items which Helen hand Toll Painted for friends and family. With a few friends, Ken built one of the early cottages on Gibson Lake for Helen and him. He then helped friends build their own cottages and together they enjoyed many summer weekends fishing, water skiing and relaxing.
After selling their cottage, Ken and Helen bought camping trailers and each summer they would pack the family up and travel to the West coast one year and the East coast the next in both Canada and the United States, creating many fond and lasting memories.
Being a member of The Rotary Club of Barrie brought Ken great satisfaction. From the annual Rotary Chicken Barbecue to tree planting in Kempenfelt Park and installing a rope tow in Sunnidale Park for a ski hill, Ken loved the camaraderie of the club as they worked and contributed to the community.
As Barrie grew and was rapidly expanding, Ken served on the Barrie Planning Board during the 1970’s and enjoyed providing input and guidance from the business communities perspective.
Both Ken and Helen enjoyed several volunteer roles at Collier Street United Church, where he and Helen met and made many of their long standing and treasured friendships. Ken contributed by serving on numerous governance boards of the church and Helen found deep satisfaction in developing the educational elements which culminated in the Collier School of Lay Ministry.
They were both aware of, and grateful for the richness of their lives. They treasured their friendships, and they loved and enjoyed their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They had marvelous travels and drew deep satisfaction from contributing to their community. Most of all, they deeply loved, respected, and enjoyed each other.
Our family will certainly miss both Ken and Helen, however we recognize and appreciate they both lived long, healthy, and happy lives and we are thankful for that.
Ken will be remembered by those that knew him as a gentleman and a gentle man.
Private family arrangements have been entrusted to the Steckley-Gooderham Funeral Home, 30 Worsley St., Barrie. If desired, donations in Ken’s memory may be made to the RVH Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and are greatly appreciated by the family.
Online memories and condolences may be forwarded via www.steckleygooderham.com

2023

steckley-gooderham funeral homes

Death notice for the town of: BARRIE, Province: Ontario

death notice Ken Byles 2023

obituaries notice Ken Byles 2023

We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ken Byles 2023  and hope that their memory may be a source of comfort during this difficult time. Your thoughts and kind words are greatly appreciated.