Ken Conkey
Aug. 28, 1957 – Jan. 1, 2025

Ken passed away unexpectedly due to health issues on Jan. 1, 2025.
He was born in Rocky Mountain House on Aug. 28, 1957, to his parents Harland and Mary, and his favourite big sister Debbie. He grew up on the family farm with the famous silver barn and attended school in Rocky Mountain House. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his dad Harland, and they loved to go on family drives to the mountains. They spent lots of family time together going on picnics, berry picking and working on the farm with all their animals.

Ken was especially close to his big sister Debbie. She was always his protector growing up, standing in front of him when their mom Mary would try to spank him. When he was a teenager, Debbie figured maybe she should have let him get a few more spankings so he wouldn’t have been so wild!

Ken was a bit of a wild child in his high school years. He was part of organizing the first sit-in protest at Rocky Jr. Sr. High School, they made it on the RDTV news. Ken loved bowling in high school and even set some high school records at the bowling alley. He may have gotten in some trouble through the years with Dave, Otto, Kurt, Jim, Ken S. and other friends. He prided himself on having nice vehicles, the faster the better — which didn’t always work in his favour. Ken S. says someone must have been looking out for them on their many drives together.

Driving across Canada and back in his Trans Am with Jeannette was one of his fondest memories!

Ken had many friends who held a special place in his heart and who were family to him. One of his closest friends was Sherry Phillips. They bickered like an old married couple, but always remained friends. Ken and Sherry took many trips together, they loved going to B.C. and to Cold Lake as much as they could to see Jim and Joie. They went on drives together, spent hours playing crib and cards, going for drinks and having meals together. Ken also spent many hours working in Sherry’s yard which he’d complain loudly about, but he secretly loved to help her out.

Dave Holkestad was another best friend who Ken spent time with; they played pool and Ken loved going to Dave’s cabin out at Nordegg. Ken, Dave and Kurt would spend hours ice fishing together and Ken would always come back with stories of their time on the ice. Ken was an avid Oilers fan and spent ages arguing with Kurt, who is an avid Flames fan, about hockey games.

He had so many friends that he loved to spend time with especially the Gilbert and Jones families; they were all his extended family who he loved very much.

Ken worked at the Esso Gas Plant at Everdell. He knew that plant inside and out! Ken also worked at the new Quinn environmental division with Heather Jones, then moved on to become a contractor operator. He worked for different companies including Flint, Harmattan, Whitecap, Rosca and Paramount. He was well liked by the people he worked with.

Ken’s favourite things to do were spending time with his family and friends, playing cards and crib, ice fishing, cooking, reading, watching sports, taking pictures of nature and wildlife and he especially enjoyed sitting around a fire with people he loved. He really loved going to meat draws and socializing with people at the Legion. He loved to spend time with kids; teasing them and getting them to laugh made him very happy. He was affectionately known as Conkey to many people and one of his favourite sayings was “Conkey don’t care.” He also really enjoyed his Jager, Amarula and Bud Light. He lived his life to the fullest and without regrets.

He will be dearly missed by his big sister Debbie, brother-in-law Sandy, nieces and nephews, family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held at the Royal Canadian Legion in Rocky Mountain House on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, at 2 p.m.

Donations may be made in his name to the Heart Foundation or Good Samaritan Society Clearwater Centre if wished.

Condolences may be forwarded to www.rockyfuneralhome.ca.

Rocky and Sylvan Lake Funeral Homes and Crematorium, your Golden Rule Funeral Homes, entrusted with the arrangements.