Thursday, January 30

Ten Year Tribute

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.
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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.

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