Quintin “Ken” Kennedy Best, 33, passed away at his home on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, after a two-year battle with cancer.
His family will gather with friends on Sunday from 2 to 7 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home in Dowagiac, where his funeral service will be held on Monday at 10 a.m. led by Pastor Lonnie Carpenter.
Ken will be laid to rest in Sumnerville Cemetery following the service.
Ken’s life began on Nov. 22, 1975 in Kalamazoo, the son of John and Donna (Garber) Best.
He was a 1993 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School. He entered the United States Navy and served on board the USS Tortugas and the USS Cole. He was employed as a general contractor.
He was united in marriage to the former Mckenzie Carpenter on Oct. 25, 2007 in Niles. Ken’s life revolved around his children, and his work. He enjoyed watching movies and raising chickens.
His loving family includes his parents John and Donna Best of Dowagiac; his wife, Mckenzie Best of Niles; his children, Savanna Best, Aiden Best, Peyton Best, Wyatt Eager and Westin Eager; siblings, Becky (Tom) Best of Battle Creek, Tammy (Willie) Best of Dowagiac, John (Angie) Best, Jr. of Dowagiac, and Bobbie Jo (Tommy) Graham of Edwardsburg; step-sister Amanda (Marvin) Davis of Treadway, Tenn and a step-brother, Clyde Ray Ezell of Harvard, Ill.; nieces Jessica, Makayla, Ava, Melody, Kaydi and Cheyenne; nephews, Sam, Travis, Brandon, Dustin, James, Cody and Derrick; brother-in-law, Donnie Carpenter of Florida; in-laws, Don and Debra Carpenter of Niles; aunts and uncles, Dr. George (Darlene) Best, M.D. of Scottsdale, Ariz., Ron (Gail) Best of Frankfort, Howard (Valerie) Best of Middlebury, Samuel (Penny) Garber, Leta Bradley, and Ellen Garber, all of Rogersville, Tenn. and Charles (Kathy) Inzer and Lisa Inzer, both of Kendallville, Ind., his former spouse, Stephanie Best of South Bend, Ind. and several other relatives and friends.
The family wishes to acknowledge the oncology and radiation staff at the University of Michigan and Hospice at Home for their outstanding efforts.
Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to his family in care of John Best.
Please sign his guestbook and leave a memory of Ken at www.mclauchlin-clark.com.
Arrangements were by McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac.