Obituary: Maurer, R. Kenley
He left a legacy of community service to the Tri-Cities that spans 60 years.
Ken was born in Spokane in 1924 to Orlin and Sadie Maurer, and raised on a wheat ranch in Davenport, Wash.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and later attended Washington State College, where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Following graduation he was editor of a weekly newspaper and served in the public relations department of General Electric on the Hanford project.
He opened his own advertising agency in Pasco in 1957, where he specialized in publicity and event and association management.
In the early 1960s, Ken was part of a small group of community leaders searching for a major event that would attract people to the Tri-Cities and highlight the area’s sunshine and water recreation.
That event became the Tri-City Water Follies and the Columbia Cup hydroplane race, one of the country’s longest-running community festivals.
Ken’s agency ran the day-to-day operations of the Water Follies until his retirement in 2003.
He will be fondly remembered for his creativity, sense of humor and love of music ranging from opera to Dixieland.
Ken is survived by his wife of 62 years, Helen, son Randy and his wife Kathy, Spokane; son Mitchell and his wife Sherry , Issaquah; and granddaughters Jennifer and Allison.
A celebration of Ken’s life will be held Monday, August 18, at 1 pm, at the Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home, in Pasco.
Memorial contributions may be made to Franklin County Historical Society & Museum or the Mid-Columbia Symphony.
Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.The family invites you to sign their on-line guest book at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.