Kenneth Leo Guernsey died Friday the 13 ^th , 2018. He was born September 9 ^th 1939 in Minneapolis, Minnesota where he lived for 4 years before moving to Seattle with his family. He spent most of his early years in the north Seattle area. He attended Ronald Elementary, Hamilton Junior High and Lincoln High School where he graduated in 1957. He attended the University of Washington before transferring to Western Washington University in Bellingham where he graduated in 1963 with a B.A. and a teaching degree. It was this year that everything began for Ken. He married his wife Georgia, his life partner for 55 years. They moved to their first home in the Shoreline area where Ken began his teaching career as a 5 ^th grade teacher in the Shoreline School District. The latter part of this year brought the couple their first child, Brent. After four years of teaching, the family moved to the South Pacific to teach English as a second language to the students on Rota Island near Guam in the Mariana Islands. It was here that their second child, Mariana, was born. After two years the family returned to the states and the Shoreline School District. In 1971 Ken completed his Masters degree in education at Seattle University.

In 1974 Ken and his family moved to Mount Vernon, Washington where he became the principal at Jefferson Elementary School where he spent the next 10 years. He moved to LaVenture middle School in 1984 and on to the Mount Vernon School District Central office in 1988 where he was director of elementary education. Ken moved the next year to the Conway School district as their superintendent for six years. He retired in 1995 but continued to work as intern superintendent at Coupville, intern principal at Madison in Burlington and Mount Vernon High School. He also spent a number of years supervising student teachers and directing the Alternative School in Mount Vernon.

Ken and Georgia traveled a great deal in their retirement taking cruises and trips around the country and in Europe. He enjoyed woodworking where he made furniture for himself and his family. He greatly enjoyed golf which he said was his greatest pleasure and greatest pain. He was a huge Seahawk fan and again his greatest pleasure and greatest pain. He was a member of the Skagit Golf and Country Club for over 35 years. It was here that he made many great friends.

Ken is survived by his wife of 55 years, his daughter Mariana Guernsey, his son Brent, daughter-in-law Kim, his two grandchildren Bryce and Kayla, Bryce's wife Stephanie, and a sister Dorothy Guernsey.

Ken was a loving and caring husband, a wonderful father that cannot be described properly in this summary, a grandfather that could be compared to a superhero by of some of us, and a great friend to many. He touched many lives throughout his career and life. He genuinely cared for all the people around him. His wisdom, thoughtfulness, generosity, smile, humor, and love will be truly missed.

Per Ken's wishes, the family will have a private service and there will be no formal memorial service.