An open letter to uncle Ken from Your Nieces
Dear Uncle Ken,
Debbie called me earlier this afternoon. Hearing her voice, Debbie didn’t need to tell me that you had passed on. After Debbie and I closed our conversation, I sat on a hassock and started to reflect on you and the life that you led.
You were born on Tuesday, October 19, 1937 to Albert Reginald Daley, a baker and his wife Mable Louise Daley, nee Baldie at the old hospital (as it was known then) in Savanna La Mar, Westmoreland. You would be the third of five children; you were born after your older brothers, Lloyd and Roy then after you would be your sisters, Jasmine and Hypha. You had another sister, Elsa who was your Daddy’s firstborn from a different union. When your mother predeceased your father, your parents were married for close to 44 years; your parents got married on August 20, 1931. The Daley’s then attended the Anglican (Parish) Church.
You attended the Savanna La Mar elementary school. You excelled academically; your parents wanted you to attend Manning’s school. However, you declined as your interest was in mechanics. In those days, it was practically unheard of to attend a high school only to become a mechanic.
You developed such an interest in motor cars and trucks that you were able to make toy cars out of pieces of boards that you found lying around the yard. As you grew into becoming a young adult, you were known for showing your mother a lot of affection. It was not unusual for you to approach your mother, simply give her a kiss and a hug and then walk away to do something else. Likewise, your sisters found you to be a loving, caring, playful brother. You and your sisters would play with their dolls. Then at another time, you would creep up behind a sister, slap her, then run away. At first, they would be annoyed and ignore you. When you thought that they had forgotten you, you would repeat the process, except that you would slap them harder which got Jasmine and Hypha angry. This would lead to a chase where they were never able to catch up with you to slap you back. You were always ahead of your sisters.
After you finished school, you became a mechanic’s apprentice at Mr. Herman Smith’s garage in Savanna La Mar. You spent roughly three years before seeking employment at the Jamaica Telephone Company; that would be the changing point of your life. One day, you were sent to the Hopewell Post Office to service a faulty telegram equipment. This is where you would meet your future wife. You both had a whirlwind courtship and by Monday, August 29, 1960 you married Hannah Louise Coore. Once married, you settled in Hanover and lived there until you passed on.
After a few years, you left the telephone Company and returned to your first love – mechanics. You gained employment at Mr. Tony Hart’s garage, a large and popular garage in its time in Montego Bay. You did so well there that Mr. Hart sent you to London, England for further training as a transmission specialist.
You spent ten months in England where you attended a mechanic school in Enfield, London. You lived with your sister, Hypha who had before then migrated to London to join her future husband as it was the practice then. Once in London, you would have become the first relative from the Daley family that your sister’s three daughters would meet. We can agree that you were very kind and caring to us; even a niece, Marie would not give you a break – wherever uncle Ken was so too would be Marie. Subsequently, you returned to Jamaica where you would later travel to Chicago USA for further training.
Upon your return to Jamaica over time you became employed at the Northern Industrial Garage eventually your years of experience and gentle personality would lead you to become a manager. You maintained this position for many years until you retired then opened your own garage, no doubt, a lifelong dream for you. You continued to maintain this business until you were finally ready to retire. Being at home led you to be fully dedicated to the church and your family.
On Thursday, August 26, 2021, three days before your 61st wedding anniversary, you would close your eyes for the final time.
As various family members reflect on your love, kind and caring ways, your sisters reminisced that the first week that you worked at Mr. Smith’s garage, you earned two shillings. You took home every penny and give it to grandma. Jasmine and Hypha can recall that they wanted to go to the Cinema but your father did not want his daughters to go unescorted. Not only did you take your sisters to the cinema, but you could not afford to pay for all three of you. Instead, you paid for your sisters and patiently waited outside for the duration of the movie to walk home with your sisters.
From other family members, we will always regret we just did not get enough time to spend with you as you had other demands to deal with. We would see you for funerals or when you traveled to Savanna La Mar or Santa Cruz to pick up groceries, which was another issue. When given the opportunity you always enquired about other family members, their welfare and development. Once we were on business in Montego Bay it was certainly a pleasure to stop by the garage, even if the visit was brief to see you. It was a pleasure to bring for you treats in the form of sliced cakes and refreshments. Whenever we were able to visit you at home, it was always comforting to know that you not only walk with us to our vehicle but you would pray for our family before we departed. Thanks, Uncle Ken, those prayers were always appreciated.
You have left to mourn your absence, your widow, Hannah, children, Kenneth Jr, Denise, Debbie and Audrey, in-laws, grandchildren, great grandchildren, sisters, Jasmine and Hypha, numerous nieces and nephews.
May you rest in peace and rise in glory.
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