Kenneth Gage Gary's Obituary
As summer transitioned into autumn, Kenneth Gage Gary ascended to be in the company of his distinguished ancestors and cherished loved ones. If Kenny was relating his story, he would tell us that he is an author who is a Story Teller by profession and more importantly…by passion. He was an intellectual whose scientific instincts complemented his proficiency as an artist and consummate musician who would play melodious jazz on any piano in his path.Kenny was proud to be a father who became grandfather and great-grandfather. He was more than a husband; he was the love of a lifetime. He was our brother, our uncle, our cousin, our neighbor and our friend by divine and fateful destiny. With love and reverence, this is how we will best remember this incredible man.Kenny’s life’s journey began on November 28th, 1952, along the Missouri River in the small town of Atchison, Kansas. He was the fourth born child of Printice and Wilma Gary. His older siblings Janice Kay, Printice Jr. and Hedy Michelle shared the Kansas birthplace. His two younger siblings, Alberta and Russell Craig were born after the family journeyed far north and established Minneapolis, Minnesota as their home.Kenny played football at Central High School and was an accomplished track and field star, having claimed championships at the city and Minnesota state levels in the relays and sprints. His specialty was the 400 meter run. Most importantly his academic achievements were recognized with a scholarship to Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts where he earned a degree in Biological Anthropology.While teaching science in Boston, Kenny became well known locally as a Martial Arts Guru. He performed thrilling choreographed sword fighting demonstrations with his sparring partner and good friend Nasim, in spite of an occasional injury. Martial arts were always an essential aspect of his life and as Sensei (teacher) Kenny established the Dojo Code that guided him,We should always seek in ourselves the perfection of character we seek in others. We shall always practice patience, kindness, sincerity and understanding. We should always maintain maximum effort and endeavor, keeping the true fighting Spirit of the martial arts. We should always be capable of feeling deeply, and fighting against Injustice committed against anyone, anytime, in any part of the world.Kenny’s commitment to, and even reliance on the Martial Arts was most evident in exaltation of his alter of weaponry, particularly swords. He wrote extensively on the Martial Arts, the techniques and the philosophy which also guided his everyday life as he prolifically wrote,Martial arts have been utilized as one of many avenues of “The Way”, to acquainting oneself with the Tao at least by virtue of a literal parallel and at best the harbinger of enlightenment. The value of an awakening is that in one’s life like these principals can be generalized and, hopefully, impact an intriguing curiosity into one’s inner being that causes it to seek complete expression and emerge from whence we heap consciousness upon it. It’s a tingling and pervasive effort. As always, an art is one of many paths to a higher realization.A new emotion is conceived. It is consuming but it is not rage, it is like the force of a storm, but it is not violent, it is sensitive but not compassionate. It carries itself and maintains a tone throughout the fight. There may be something about the fact that it is a martial encounter that lends a certain exigency to matters forcing responses to be entirely spontaneous and even appropriate. In a correctly balanced mind, the attack will produce the defense of its own accord. Thought merely introduces variables that interfere. As long as there is breath There is will The sword It must be wielded with all the love of the heart with vigor of the body with single-minded aspiration of the soulIn August 1980, on the front lawn of one of the steepest streets in America, Kenny and Dineo, who he met in college, pledged their love and commitment to each other becoming husband and wife. Initially in Boston and then relocating to Dallas, Kenny worked professionally for several decades as a Systems Engineer and IT Architect working across the United States and internationally.Despite a hectic travel schedule, Kenny made time to enjoy his family. Some of the more memorable activities included four-wheel driving on the beaches of Cape Cod, attending Native American powwows and camping in tents. He also coached his son’s football team and with his nephew Eric he coached basketball. He taught martial arts to his sons, and children of nieces, nephews and friends.No family gathering was complete without Kenny delightedly giving into the clamoring of the kids for Uncle Kenny to tell them a scary story. After the room was darkened, a circle of anxious faces awaited their fate. Kenny would close the door as the adults anticipated the entranced howls and screams. He looked forward to his all too brief retirement in which Kenny was contently immersed in the artist’s life, creating his life’s work.As the griot is an African tribal Story Teller whose role is to preserve genealogies and traditions, Kenny avidly embraced his destiny to be the cultural guardian of his family’s oral traditions with his grandmother as his first source of inspiration. Kenny righteously inherited this sense of preservation from his father who chronicled the lives and activities of people through his professional photography and his mother who curated a rare collection of African-American quilts.Following in the footsteps of his educator parents, Kenny sought to share his family’s treasures with the public. This was accomplished in 2014 when the collection “Haunting and Spiritual Stories”, co-authored with his sister Hedy, was published. Kenny described his achievement,This book is a collection of short stories. They stand by themselves, individually, and seek to enable a scintillating excursion beyond the common four walls of life. I wish to seduce the imagination with a subtle convergence of Storytelling quietly seeping into questions of considerable moment… Haunting is a species of Horror. Haunting is when one is compelled to ponder a phenomenon at length, searching for solid, familiar ground after encountering a vulnerability in existence itself. Spiritual is the entirety of one’s reaction to life no matter what the conclusion.And as a tribute to his Grandmother and his family traditions, the first story begins,Once upon a time… When I was a little boy, I enjoyed my Grandmother’s stories more than anything. Each time, by stories end, I was seized by fear. Soon thereafter, I would eagerly ask for another one. There is no rational explanation for this seeming self – torture, but I could not resist; and I was not alone. My siblings and I would often scramble, like a litter of puppies, to gather around Grandma’s chair when story-time commenced. It was always a bit of a wrestling match to find a seat both comfortable and safe as possible. Then, the story would begin….There are many who remain to miss Kenny’s visceral presence, including: his wife Dineo Coleman Gary, his sons: Kenneth Gary Jr., his wife Angelina; Kwihata M. Gary, his wife Amanda; and Kasim Gary, his wife Katarina. Three siblings: Printice Jr. Gary, his wife Cynthia; Alberta Hicks, her husband Victor and Hedy Gray. The family lost elder sister Janice Kay a decade ago, and their youngest brother Russell Craig, also very unexpectedly, just earlier this year.The grandchildren to whom the story telling tradition is passed on: Preston Powless-Gary, Yvonne Powless-Gary, Lashanna Akis, Kenneth Gary-Wade, Giovanni Dotts, Makayla Powless, Justin Haley, Jody Haley, Akira Ionia Gary and eight great-grandchildren. Uncle Kenny will be missed and remembered by his loving nieces and nephews, and the friends who were also his family.Words from Kenny’s well-worn Bhagavad-Gita prescribes, “The power of God is with you at all times; through the activities of mind, senses, breathing, and emotions; and is constantly doing all the work using you as a mere instrument.”It is then understandable that Kenny wrote, “We are at a threshold in time where we stand to lose much of the past with no chance of recovery due to death, loss of physical records and other factors contributing to the challenge of preserving the past. This, now, is a critical time in that regard.” These words are prophetic.Not long ago, Kenny completed the manuscript for his second book which he considered his life’s work before transcending beyond the stars into the domain of God.It is fortunate to be in contact at all. Blessed are the senses, for they are wondrous gifts. The unfathomable mind, which emanates the similarity of life, Is divinely-inspired. Life is a momentous effort to awaken to the eternal dance of the spirit. – Kenneth G. GaryKenny, you awakened the spirit of all you encountered and those you nourished. Your life’s work, your words and your art will be preserved and shared by those who love you eternally. Your story will not end… There is so much more to tell that will be better conveyed in his words… To read two of his stories, and view a video of the Master Story Teller at his craft, get comfortable and go to: http://aaduna.org/fallwinter2014/fiction/kenneth-gary/ An elucidating 2015 article “Conversation with Kenneth G Gary, Sr” gives the reader a personal narrative of his life, historical insight into Kenny’s passion for storytelling and a glimmer of the philosophy that guided his remarkable life:http://aaduna.org/fallwinter2014/conversations/conversation-with-kenneth-g-gary-sr/ The scary tale “The Spring House Sale: Alabama Ghost Story” is found at: https://www.themoonlitroad.com/spring-house-sale-alabama-ghost-story/ Kenny’s first book Haunting and Spiritual Stories is available and pre-orders will be taken for his second collection at The Dark Art Store: https://darkart.bigcartel.com/product/haunting-and-spiritual-stories-by-kenneth-g-gary The second book of Kenneth G. Gary will be available in 2020. https://darkart.bigcartel.comA Celebration of Mr. Kenneth Gage Gary’s life will be held at 4:00 pm on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at Restland Funeral Home.Restland Funeral Home is located at 13005 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX 75243. For directions or information please call 972-238-7111.
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