Kenneth Mayes Obituary

Kenneth Rayburn Mayes, 81, passed on February 23rd, 2024 in Cocoa Beach, Florida, surrounded by his loving family. Ken was born on March 7, 1942 in Huntsville, Alabama to Robert Curtis Mayes and Annile (Kilpatrick) Mayes on a warm, sunny day at 5:33pm. (Ken knew the weather because he Googled it.) A sibling of six, he passed his impoverished childhood getting into mischief with his siblings, and moving from town to town while his father worked various farming jobs. Ken got his first job at age ten selling newspapers at two cents a piece. In Memphis in 1955, he had his first glimpse of Elvis when a bunch of kids from Hurt Village got together to sit on the lawn and watch him play guitar and sing. He became a lifelong fan.

After graduating from Kingsbury High School in 1960, Ken joined the Air Force and began a successful career where he served for 30 years at various stateside and overseas bases. He met Linda, the love of his life, in Little Rock, Arkansas on assignment. They married in 1963. They started their family early, and traveled all over the world from Okinawa, the States, the Azores, and Germany. Even though they moved a lot, Ken often put the wishes of his family before his own career, negotiating leave around his next assignments because if his kids were happy “that was all that counted.” He was promoted to Chief Master Sergeant, an accomplishment he took much pride in. During his career he earned the Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm, Air Force Good Conduct Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Achievement Award, Air Force Commendation Medal, and the Meritorious Service Medal with six oak leaf clusters. After service, Ken turned to the private sector and launched a prosperous third party shipping franchise. He enjoyed traveling at home and abroad and experiencing new adventures. He enjoyed off-roading in his jeep with his buddies and belonged to several jeep clubs. He retired to Florida where he spent his days golfing and spending time with his wife. He was supportive, generous, kind, an excellent husband, Dad, Papa, and friend who had the biggest heart.

Ken is survived by his wife, Linda; his brother Steve and his wife Jannette, his brother Dennis and his wife Wanda; his children Angie and her husband Carlos, Tonya and her husband Bob, Rob and his wife Charity, Ryan and his wife Christina; his grandchildren Jessica, Amanda, Katie, Brooke, Christian, Cidney, Mackenzie, Riley, Quinn, Stella, Dallin, Emily, Carter, Lauren; and his great-grandchildren Karis, Andrew, Noelle, Kaelyn, Charley, Samuel, Rowan. Ken is predeceased by his father, Robert (1994), his mother, Annile (2001) his sister Joyce-Ann (1937), brother Vernon (1986), youngest brother Larry (2020), brother Bob (2021) a sister Deborah Elaine Hodges (2016).

He will be interred with full military honors on June 7th, at 12:30 pm at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery and a celebration of life will be held on June 6th.