Myles Edwin Kennedy

Myles E. Kennedy, 87, died peacefully on July 12, 2013 at the Waltonwood Memory Care facility in Canton, Michigan. Myles was born on April 23, 1926 in Winnipeg, Manitoba to Samuel and Jessica (Copp) Kennedy. The hard economy of that day prompted their family to move from Winnipeg, to Owen Sound, Ontario where Myles grew up, and later to Windsor where his father pursued the trade of a tailor. While in Owen Sound, Myles spent several idyllic summers as a deck hand on ships that ferried fisherman, campers, and tourists among the Thousand Islands. At the age of 18 and pending the second World War, Myles joined the Canadian Navy and was stationed in Halifax, but was never shipped to Europe. Trained as an accountant, Myles enjoyed many pastimes – including drawing, woodworking, and refinishing furniture. He used his educational benefits as a veteran to graduate from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Ontario in 1951, and then articled as a chartered accountant with Brokenshire, Scarff & Company in Windsor, Ontario. At this time in his life, Myles met and married Carol Bruce in 1952. They were married over sixty years and had three children: Bruce (Nancy Armstrong), John (Maggie) and Trish as well as two grandchildren: J. Trent and Julia. Myles left his first accounting job to join K.D. MacLennan for a short time and soon took a position with Chrysler Corporation that he held for more than twenty-five years. Chrysler took the Kennedy family from Windsor to St Louis, Detroit, England and finally Paris, France. Myles retired from Chrysler in 1980 as the Assistant Director of Finance of Chrysler Europe. Myles never met a flea market that he did not like. Often Myles purchased items in need of repair, such as a clocks or other such intricate items, or he would return from a country drive with furniture parlously balanced on top of the family car. Selling his treasures was not easy. Myles once tried to set up his own informal booth at the main Paris flea market, Porte de Cligancourt, without bothering to obtain any vendor’s license. Les gendarmes duly informed Myles to cease and desist or he would tour a French jail. After returning stateside and retiring from Chrysler, Myles worked an additional ten years as an accountant for the Visiting Nurses Association. Retiring once again, Myles provided accounting services to many Plymouth area businesses. Myles and Carol were also members of the First United Methodist Church Northville both before and after their years in Europe. His passion for clock repair continued after retirement by refining his skills with courses at Greenfield Village. Myles and Carol enjoyed travel, having memorable trips throughout Europe and annual visits to Anna Maria Island (Florida) with their longstanding friends they met in England, Peter and Brenda Vey. In his final years, Myles was cheerful and often found whistling or singing songs from his youth despite being afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. The family extends a special thank you to the staff at Waltonwood for providing loving care for the past two years. In lieu of flowers, donations are encouraged to the Alzheimer's Association, alz.org, or an Alzheimer's charity of your choice. Visitation for Myles will be held at Schrader-Howell Funeral Home, 280 S. Main Street, Plymouth, Michigan 48170 on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 from 1 to 7 pm. Additional visitation and a brief memorial service will be at the Families First Funeral Home, 3260 Dougall Avenue, South Windsor Ontario Canada N9E 1S6 on Wednesday, July 17, 2013. Visitation will be from 11 am to 1 pm and a service will be held from 1 – 2 pm. Burial will be at the Victoria Memorial Cemetery.