Kenneth R. Harkey

Kenneth R. Harkey passed away at his home on Sunday January 6th, 2013. Ken was born on May 24, 1930 in Flagstaff to Lonnie \u0026 Beatrice Harkey at the old Mercy Hospital. He attended Flagstaff schools and participated in multiple sports before graduating from Flagstaff High School in 1948. He was a student at Arizona State College where he was a member of the Chain Gang graduating in 1953 before enlisting in the Army where he worked on Nike Missiles in the Puget Sound area in Washington. After servings as a Sergeant in the Army he worked for Boeing in Seattle \u0026 it was there that he met and married his wife of 56 years, Sonja Gilich in 1956. He returned to Flagstaff with Sonja and Ken Jr. and to Northern Arizona University to complete his masters degree in 1959. His first teaching job was as a seventh grade teacher where he taught four years at Marshall School and one year at Weitzel School. He then was assistant principal at Mt. Elden School for one year and then was the principal at South Beaver Elementary School until he was named the founding principal for the new Thomas Elementary School in 1966 and stayed a "Thomas Tiger" for twenty years before retiring in 1986. He worked the following year as a mentor and assistant principal at Killip and Cromer schools. Ken was active in the Elks and Rotary Club and worked with the Housing Authority of Flagstaff. Ken and his family spent summers in Gig Harbor Washington and had many adventures on trips to Canada, Mexico and many of the national parks in the west. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and playing golf with friends and family and watching sports. He and Sonja spent half the year in Gig Harbor WA and half the year in Lake Montezuma AZ. His favorite time was when he was with his family and he was proud of their accomplishments. Ken is survived by his wife, Sonja, his sons Kenneth (Toni) and John (Karen) of Flagstaff, his grandson Christopher (Erin) of Flagstaff and his granddaughter Lindsey of Tucson. He is also survived by his brother-in-law, John Gilich of Gig Harbor. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Willard Harkey. A celebration of Ken\u0027s life will be held on Saturday January 26, 2p.m. at Kenneth \u0026 Toni\u0027s home in Flagstaff, 2330 E. Forest Hts. Dr. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Northland Hospice of Flagstaff or Hospice Compassus of Sedona. Ken was a caring and giving husband, father and grandfather, a respected colleague, a friend to all and will be missed. An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com