Today marks the 10th year anniversary of my dad's passing... somehow ya just never forget those dates... and I'll absolutely never forget him... forever in my heart.
So today I'll be reminiscing all day about the incredible father he was... thought I'd post the Program from his Memorial Service...
A
Tribute to
Darrell Vernon Kamery
Today we pay tribute to a great
man worthy of double honor. Darrell was a devoted husband, deeply loving
father, proud grandfather, and an incredible friend to many.
Darrell was born July 25, 1921, in Taft California. His
childhood years were spent in Lawndale, California and Silverton, Oregon. In
1939, at the age of 17, he joined the US Navy and so the adventure began! He
was stationed on the USS Canberra and also the USS Maryland as Apprentice Seaman
and accelerated through the ranks to
Chief Fire Control Technician. He
had various assignments, most renowned being at the World War II attack on
Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.
After the war, while on leave, he was visiting
family in Olean, New York, and was introduced to Jacqueline Marie McGovern, a
beautiful young woman enrolled in Nursing School. They were married two days
after Christmas in 1947. As their family grew, their travels did as well. After
20 years of service, he retired from the Navy in San Diego in 1959. Shortly
after, they moved to Cardiff-by-the-Sea where he began work as a Computer
Programmer for Control Data. In 1968 Control Data moved them to Torrance but
during that time Jackie’s health began to fail and they desperately wanted to
be back “home” surrounded by their friends and family. Therefore, they moved
back down to Leucadia. After 23 years of marriage, Jackie passed away in 1970.
Not only did Darrell lose his wife, but shortly after, Control Data closed down
their San Diego offices and relocated ~ this time to Minneapolis, however
Darrell chose to continue to raise his young family in Leucadia where their
“roots” were. After a series of handy-man jobs, he was offered a position as
Office Manager/Accountant for Dramm & Echter Flower Growers in Encinitas
where he worked until he retired in 1986.
Darrell was a very active
father…. involved in Little League as coach and
“official scorekeeper”… earned the title of "Father of the
Year" by the North County Tribune... over the years he acted as both
Treasurer and Secretary of the Encinitas Chapter of the Knights of
Columbus…... he took the kids on several
road trips to Oregon and New York,….
fell in love with desert camping and even became “Mr. Chicken Bones” for
the Chicken Bones Enduro Motorcycle Club (established by Martin Kamery!)…. If
you’ve ever been to Captain Keno’s in Encinitas, you’d probably find him there
having breakfast…. He loved walking the town… and talking to neighbors. He
loved building wood projects…. LARGE wood projects likes homes and garages!!!
He loved playing Skip-Bo with anyone who’d walk in the door and he probably
read every single book in the Encinitas library. He was very active in the Pearl Harbor
Survivors Association and was their Treasurer for several years. He attended
most of their conventions and reunions for the USS Maryland.
He was an outstanding man who
believed strongly in excellence and lived with a calm sense of contentment and
simplicity. Darrell raised an extraordinary family. He is survived by his six
children, and their respective families who will continue to
carry on his legacy. To know Darrell was to know his affectionate love and
special fondness for his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
Proverbs 17:6
Children’s children are a crown to the
aged
And parents are the pride of their
children.
***************************************************
There are no words to express
our gratitude for the outpouring of love and acts of kindness we have been
shown in so many ways. We are deeply thankful for those who have brought food,
sent flowers and cards, and traveled long distances to be here with us during this
time. We are so blessed to have such tremendous support from all of you, our
friends and family.
Ecclesiastes
3:1-4
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
He will live in our hearts
forever.
