My condolences to Ken's family. I just found out about his death. My father worked with Ken for years at the Sheriff's Department, and just found out, as well.

My first memory of Ken was going over to the old house on/near Parkerville in Cedar Hill. He welded up a brake lever for an old mini-bike frame he gave to my brother and I. I remember riding it on the acreage around that house. Rode that thing for years!

I also remember going out there to cut firewood with Dad. Ken let me drive his old gray Willys Jeep. Probably the first time I ever got to drive, not just steer! He used to have a bunch of hounds/coon dogs at that time, and he even had a dog named "Rowdy".

Ken used to take us out to dove hunt at Magic Valley Ranch, a large ranch that used to be in the Cedar Hill area. Lots of fun running out there to hunt as a 10-12 year-old.

A few years later, Ken gave me a ton of old PSE archery magazines. I read those, constantly. He loaned us a box of Howard Hill and Fred Bear archery hunting videos that fascinated me. I still think of Ken when I shoot my old Bear recurve bows.

I recall that Ken was really interested in Santa Gertrudis cattle for a while. I rode down to a cattle sale in West, with he and Captain Mc Kinley. On another trip, Ken/Dad brother/and I went down to see his acreage in Fairy, and stopped to eat at the Koffee Kup Kafe in Hico.

A few years later, he ended up on the place in Red Oak. He used to let us fish on the huge lake out there and dove/squirrel hunt. One summer as a teenager, he gave me a job helping demolish an old barn that had fallen down. I must've taken a couple hundred sheets of tin off that barn! He had plans of using it to build a barn on his place down in Fairy.

The last time I saw Ken must've been about 15 years ago. We sat at his place in Red Oak and listened to the "Luke the Drifter" album. I've got 5-10 of those CD's he recorded in my music collection. Lots of good old country music. I've still got an old tube-driven head off a National Dobro guitar amplifier he gave me, too.

The point of this is not to blather on about myself, but to let folks know that small things like fixing a mini-bike/giving a kid a place to hunt/sharing interests like cattle or archery or music, can have a big effect on someone. Things that he remembers, even as a 42 year-old man. Of all the friends Dad had from his years at the Sheriff's Department, I remember Ken as the friendliest/funniest/kindest. 

Rest in peace Ken, and thank you for all the good times and memories!!

My condolences to the family.  It was with much interest that I went through the slide show.  It gave strong testimony of Mr. Henson's character and the family that was so important to him.  It also helped me to put faces to a family that I had not seen since the early 60's when we would occasionally gather at Gracie's with much of the rest of the scattered Hereford clan for a Sunday afternoon dinner.  Family is such an important part of the richness of life.  Keep it close and you will all cherish the memories, as you will of Kenneth Henson.

Paul and I were heart broken to hear the news about Kenneth. What a great neighbor and wonderful man he was. Dorothy, we want you to know that if you need anything, please don't hesitate to call us. God Bless you all. Our thoughts and prayers go to you and your family.

OBITUARY

Kenneth Henson

July 27, 1937 – April 21, 2016

Laurel Land Funeral Home & Laurel Land Memorial Park

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