Kenneth Lawrence Milley “Ken”
Ken did “go gentle into that good night”, on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025 (cardiac arrest). He was 83 years young.
Ken was born on April 2, 1942, in Toronto, son of the late Perce and Betty. With degrees from Lakeshore Teachers’ College and York University, Ken enjoyed his entire teaching career in Special Education, in high school, elementary schools, or as a diagnostician, mainly with the Simcoe County Board of Education, in Midland, Barrie and New Lowell. As his programs were always “child-centred”, he relished his time with kids, with his consistent daily purpose being that the children leave school each day feeling better about themselves than when they had arrived. His special gift was diffusing tension, sadness, and frustration with sensitive humour. He knew how to make people smile when they didn’t know that it was exactly the right response. His love for special children, no matter how old, made Ken a hero. The frustrated child, the slow learner, those with disabilities were all his special loves! After retirement, he continued this love by volunteering with Collingwood’s CASLE (Continued Adult Special Learning Experience), a learning program for those with special needs in their 20’s. Ken always had the ability to address what some might deem “difficult” situations with grace, courage, gentleness and creativity to lift others up and to open up their worlds to greater possibilities. As an example, he helped these young adults learn the town bus system and rode with them to expand their worlds with added confidence, independence and joy! He maintained this strong relationship with many, even continuing to mentor daily by phone, or weekly trips to the coffee shop. These occasions made for Ken his “happy place”.
Ken had a “servant” heart, seeing others who needed extra care and attention, which he offered as a volunteer for Red Cross (Meals on Wheels), for Hospice Simcoe and in delivering The Good Food Boxes.
Ken steadfastly served First Presbyterian Church as an elder, Clerk-of-Session, and in any way, he could help, making meaningful connections within and beyond the Sunday services.
Ken is survived by his beloved children Aerin (Jamie) Smith, Peter (Cheryl) Milley, step-sons Dan (Stacey) Westbrooke, Chris (Kristy) Westbrooke; cherished grandchildren Olivia, Tyler and Cole. He is also survived by his brother Fred (Dorothy), sister-in-laws Madge Milley, Dianne Nixon, Debbie Arnold-Short, his loving wife, Judy, many much loved nieces and nephews and their families, and Gwen Ellis, mother of Aerin and Peter. Ken is predeceased by his sister, Wilma O’Brien, brothers Dave, Bob, brother-in-law Jim O’Brien, and sisters-in-law Anne and Renata.