Ma Favrow worked in a foundling home or orphanage, and had a real heart for children. She had raised four children: LeRoy, Beatrice, Milton, and Mildred Favrow. Pa Favrow was a retired railroad worker, injured in a train derailment. They lived in Minnesota at the time and Ma would go to the foundling home and bring babies home.
She brought Royal Kenneth Nichols home with her. Percy Favrow and Gertrude Favrow adopted this almost one year old child on May 1925. The Favrow’s already had a son they called LeRoy, so they changed Dad’s name: His legal name was now Kenneth Royal Favrow.
Ma Favrow continued to work at the foundling home and continued to bring babies home. She brought two more babies home after they adopted Kenneth and they kept a little girl for a playmate and they named her Margaret.
Kenny and Margaret were best friends. Kenny would tell the story of his little sister giving him a shove to get off the bus, Kenny rolling into the ditch, while Margaret ran in front of the bus to beat him home. Only her reward was, she was struck by a car and received a broken arm for her hasty moves.
He also told the story of Ma making pies and setting them in the open window to cool for supper. Dad got blamed by his older sister, Bea because someone ate the center of the pie. It was her turn to pray that night. And he remembered her prayer. He knew he hadn’t eaten the center out of the pie that sat in the window, but his older sibling was always blaming him, there was a bit of jealousy with her because Margaret and he were similar ages to the grandchildren that were being born by the older siblings.
So Aunt Bea prayed. Whoever ate the center of the cherry pie, may that person choke on the cherry pits left in the pie!!! Ma cut Kenneth a piece of pie and he ate it without any problems. Margaret however, chose not to eat her pie….she was concerned about those cherry pits!
As the families grew, Dad’s family and Mom’s family both found themselves living in Thief River Falls, Minnesota. Dad asked Mom to marry him after he had courted her for a while in Thief River Falls.
The Favrows moved to Bremerton, WA and the Twetens moved to Port Gamble, WA. Kenneth asked his beloved Isabella to marry him and on September 15, 1947 they were wed in the beautiful Port Gamble church that overlooks the sound.
Dad started their life working in the lumber mill in Port Gamble with his brothers-in-law and father-in-law. Ken and Izzy lived in a small cabin provided by the lumber mill. Isabella gave birth to their first little girl on November 14, 1948. She was a beautiful baby girl and the apple of her father’s eye. She had won her Dad’s heart with one smile.
Ken received an opportunity to learn how to be a certified auto mechanic; however, it meant that Ken, Izzy, Kathy and their latest addition, Kandyce would need to move to the Seattle side of the water. Ken and Izzy bought a house in Mountlake Terrace for about $6000.00. He studied, worked and tested until he was a certified mechanic. Izzy was a homemaker, she had the love in her heart like her Mother in law, Ma had for children. Dad worked for several bosses all in the Seattle area and retired at 65 from the Union 76 station located at South Center, Tukwila area.
Ken and Izzy had raised their daughters, their daughters has families of their own. Kandy started doing genealogy while she worked at the library, finding information out about Dad’s natural parents. He was angry because if they didn’t want him, he didn’t need them. So Kandy stopped her search only to have Kathy and Izzy decided to pick up where she had left off. Kandy taught them how to use machines and they became well versed in research.
While Ken and Izzy were snow-birding down in Yuma, Arizona, Kathy called Kandy. She said, “I found them!” Dad is the eldest of 6 children. We thought about the best way to contact this family. We didn’t want to intrude on them, but wanted to make contact. Ken got angry. He said to Kandy, “my parents are Ma and Pa” When I was in the war, and came home injured, it was PA that met me at the train station. It was Pa and his crippled leg from the train accident that took my duffle bag and said we are glad you are home son. His Pa helped him in the car while his arm was bandaged from his injuries. Kandy said to her Daddy. We are not trying to replace anything, we are trying to find out our background. What nationality are we, where did we come from, are we French?
Dad always told us we were French. We don’t have any French in us, but if you were to ask Dad or Kandy what nationality they are…both will say French! Dad said, I have been French all my life, I am not changing now.
Kathy sent a photo to Kenneth’s brother Richard and Ken looked just like his Dad and Uncle. He called his youngest sister, Susan in Virginia. Susan received the call and there was silence when Dad explained who he was. Dad said hello, Susan said, “Your voice has the same essence as my Dad” but I know my Dad died in 1992. We have had family reunions, stayed at their homes in the Midwest, and gone to the Evergreen state fair and suppers with the Nichols family. We have exchanged genealogy with them, and they are mourning the loss of their witty older brother too.
Nicki (Naomi Nichols Davis) remembers her Mother having distressed days. She said that when her Mom was finding out that she was having Nicki, she was having to sign her son away. Ma said Ken’s mom was too young. Helen’s Mom had passed away and left Helen in charge of the household and little sister. Kenneth’s mother, had the baby (Ken) given away, had Kenneth senior married Helen and get her pregnant to hide the fact that a baby was conceived out of wedlock.
Because of their father’s history, Kathy and Kandy are advocates against abortion. Our families would not exist if Daddy had not been adopted. So we are very thankful for the way the events of the times played out.
Dad’s natural siblings are: Nicki (Naomi) Nichols Davis, Richard Kenneth Nichols (deceased), Lucy Nichols Hallager, Tim Nichols, and Susan Nichols. Finding his sisters and brothers healed many hearts. The sisters said there was a secret in the family and no one spoke about it around the siblings. The sisters said they now understand why every 4th of July she became ill because of a painful headache. She mourned the loss of her son. He has a close niece, Anne Davis Robinson and children, Natalie and Dan that live in Mt. Vernon, WA. We still get together with her.
Ken lost his beloved Izzy on March 1st 2016. He was diagnosed with a left frontal lobe 6cm or 2.5 inch tumor that was a slow growing tumor on March 18th, 2016. The neurosurgeon said Dad’s tumor had been growing for 20-30 years. In the beginning of his care, Kathy, Kandy, Cami, Chad, and Matt stayed on weekends with Dad/Grandpa to relieve Stephen. The last two months of Ken’s life, his grandson Stephen Jordan Turk moved in with his grandpa and became his full time 24/7 caretaker/nurse. Ken’s daughter, Kandy also moved in and went to work during the day, and cooked, cleaned and helped with his care in the evenings and weekends. Kathy also assisted on weekends.
On June 27th Kandy and Stephen were up caring for Ken. Kandy told her Dad it was time and that Mommy was waiting for him. Ken had recommitted his love for Jesus earlier in June. He had asked Jesus to forgive his sins and to be his Lord and Savior. He was at peace. Stephen also was praying and asked the Lord to end his grandpa’s suffering. At 4:18 am when the prayers were completed, Ken went home to be with Jesus. He is with Izzy, Ma, Pa, siblings, and his Mom, Helen.
He is happy and would have it no other way.
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