Kenneth "PopPop" Cary

January 22, 1940 - March 7, 2020

Memorial services for Ken Cary (lovingly known as Pop Pop), age 80 of Lindale, Texas, are scheduled for 3:30 p.m., March 12, 2020 at the Caudle-Rutledge-Daugherty Funeral Home Chapel in Lindale with Jimmy Jackson officiating. Ken passed away Saturday, March 7, 2020 surrounded by his loving family. He was born to the late Tracy and Leta (Gillham) Cary on January 22, 1940 in Pampa, Texas. Ken was a graduate of Brownfield High School (Class of 1958). While in school, he was a boxing champ and captain of both the basketball and football teams. It was in high school he met and later married his wife of 61 years, Allene Brown Cary. He received his BBA from Texas Tech University and remained an avid Red Raider fan throughout his lifetime. Ken resided in Lindale for 46 years. He was a businessman and an adventurer. Late in life, Ken became blind, lost most of his hearing and had difficulty walking because of a stroke. He attended Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, a school for the blind in Austin, Texas. While at Criss Cole, Ken learned life skills that helped him overcome his disability challenges. Criss Cole was dear to his heart because it changed his life. At Criss Cole, Ken learned about skydiving and decided to give it a try. He not only tried it, he proudly completed nine jumps and stayed one jump ahead of the late President George H. W. Bush’s eight jumps. Ken encouraged others with disabilities to try skydiving because he knew it would give them confidence and build their self-esteem. Ken was an encourager and wanted other blind people to see the possibilities in life like he did. Until his health declined, he often attended White Cane Day and National Federation of the Blind events to meet, encourage and challenge the blind. The Walk to Emmaus; a three day discipleship training, was an important event in Ken‘s life. At the end of the training, there is an invitation to have a closer walk with Christ for the rest of your life and this is called the Fourth Day. The Fourth Day inspired Ken and blind friend, Tricia Owens to form the Fourth Day Blind Partners in Christ ministry. Their ministry was responsible for sending over 300 newsletters a month to prisoners and other readers. Special thanks goes to Angel Hendricks for assisting Ken with the newsletters and to many others who helped support this ministry. Ken was also a member of the Kairos prison ministry and a mentor with Calvary Commission. Ken became known as “Blind Man Ken”. Ken loved his family, especially his grandchildren and great grandchildren and prayed for them daily. He always stressed the importance of attitude and hard work and taught by his example that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going. He is preceded in death by brothers, Dale, Glen, and Don Cary. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Allene Cary of Lindale, Texas; daughter, Kim Pollard and husband, Bill of Chandler, Texas; sons, Chris Cary and wife, Mariana of Tampa, Florida, Brandon Cary and wife, Tiffany of Tyler, Texas; sisters, Lynn Bratton of Arlington, Texas and Carolyn Montgomery and husband, Phill of Cincinnati, Ohio; 7 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren; and numerous other family members and friends. Honorary pallbearers: Nicholas Cary, Christopher Graning, Andrew Pollard, Jacob Pollard, Matt Pollard, Bob Bryant, Dr. Wendell Hand, Stephen Hendricks, Rob McDonald, Mark Morman, Joe Tew, Garrett Thomas, John White and Porter Yates. Family will receive friends from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday prior to the service. In Lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center, (Make check payable to Revenue and Trust Management and include a letter directing the donation to Criss Cole Rehabilitation Center (CCRC) Mail to: Texas Workforce Commission, Revenue and Trust Management, PO Box 149261, Austin, TX 78714 or contributions may also be made to the Calvary Commission, 15983 CR 4140, Lindale, TX 75771.