Kenneth Huffman

Kenneth Henry Huffman, age 82, of Windsor, Missouri, passed away peacefully on June 27, 2013 at Windsor Healthcare in Windsor, Missouri.

Kenny was born in Capricorn, Kansas, the second son of the late Euclid E. and Flora L. Huffman Watkins, on April 9, 1931. Kenny grew up in Pitcher, Oklahoma, and Joplin Missouri, before moving to San Bernardino, California. He graduated from San Bernardino High School in 1952. He married Patsy Ann Osbun on March 14, 1952. Together they had two children, Steve and Karen.

Kenny was a self-employed ceramic tile contractor from 1960 to 1979 in Yucaipa, California. In 1979, they moved to Palm Springs, California and opened the very successful Palm Springs Tile Company. They then moved to Pearblossom, California and resided there until 2004, living briefly in Littlerock, California before the death of his beloved Patsy Ann on May 31, 2004. Kenny then moved to Bend, Oregon for a short time before settling down in Blythe, California. In January 2010, Kenny moved to Windsor. Kenny enjoyed life to the fullest in his younger days. He was a dedicated family man who worked very hard to provide for his family (the love of his life). In the early 1960’s Kenny and Pat joined a square dance group with friends, where they would meet once a week and attend an occasional dance competition. He and Pat belonged to bowling leagues for decades. His hobbies included, but were not limited to, tinkering in the garage, restoring old cars (Model A’s) from the 20’s and 30’s, wood crafts, frequent camping trips to Mexico and Big Bear Lake, off road motorcycles, family barbeques and was a licensed Ham Radio operator. Kenny was dedicated to his profession (construction) to a point that on many occasions he would put in a hard days labor sporting a pair of crutches or canes. Kenny lived his life with a debilitating bone disease, Osteomyelitis, which would have stopped the strongest of men. “There are only two reasons to miss work; a death in the family or a broken arm, and you can always put your arm in a sling,” were the words he lived by. Kenny was so liked by the community that when he was disabled for weeks, months and sometimes years, his competitors would take on his scheduled tile jobs, and forward the proceeds to his family. (Those favors were always returned). Kenny was a prankster. Many learned not to leave their cup of coffee or lunch box unattended while on the job. He was always up-beat and found the good in everyone.

Kenny was preceded in death by his older brother, Clarence W. Huffman; and nephews, Wayne and Everett Huffman.

He is survived by his brother, Everett L. Huffman and his wife Katrina L. Huffman of Bend, Oregon; two half-brothers, Larvinand Jack Huffman, of San Bernardino, California; son, Steven Kenneth Huffman of Blythe, California; daughter, Karen Ann Neufeld and her husband David; granddaughter Shauna Neufeld Boyer, grandson Joshua David Neufeld, all of Windsor, Missouri; grandson Gregory Huffman and his wife Stephanie, of Okinawa, Japan; granddaughter Stephanie Suzanne Huffman and grandson Jerry Steven Huffman, both of Blythe, California; three great-grandsons, Quinton Boyer, Wade Boyer, and Landon Huffman; along with several nephews and nieces and their families.

The family will be having a private memorial service in the spring.