Kenneth Ray Zachary

Kenneth Ray Zachary

December 18, 1949 -

August 27, 2024

Born - Exeter, CA

Early years - Farmersville, Exeter, Dinuba.

Education and Training:

Dinuba High School, United States Marine Corps, Reedley College, Fresno Community College,

Highest degree obtained: Associate Science, Criminal Justice.

Occupations: A genuine Renaissance Man, focused on many types of helping/protecting professions:

Clerk, Fresno Social Services, Certified Locksmith, Martial Arts Instructor, Fresno County Deputy Sheriff (Courthouse Bailiff), Corrections Officer, State of California, CCWF Chowchilla, Private Investigator, Security Officer. He spent many years teaching extensively - all aspects of Firearms Safety and Training, Personal Protection, Initial and renewal CCWs, various NRA classes, was a Chief Range Safety Officer, NRA Range Technical Advisor, and Hunter Education and Safety Instructor. Ken became involved in Youth shooting sports with Scouts and 4H, which included regular competitions in Lemoore and South El Monte, in LA. He and his wife, Dara, also became involved in Police and Fire Games competition and as a result, traveled to several states and Canada over the course of 10+ years. Most recently was employed as CCW/firearms instructor at Rangemasters, SLO for owner, John Perry for 15 years until retirement, August, 2022. John was very supportive, and Ken enjoyed these years as Instructor greatly. In fact, this working relationship was the primary reason for our permanent move to the Central Coast from Clovis, CA.

Ken was always a dedicated Patriot, a passionate believer in the USA, the Constitution and Second Amendment Rights for law abiding citizens of our Great Country.

Ken maintained many enduring friendships over the years, including with many of his high school classmates, too numerous to mention individually…

Other great friends of decades duration included Richard Halsted (deceased), Richard Jordan (deceased), Cameron Frazier (deceased) Rendall Reidel, staunch friend and fishing buddy and James Kimbal, also a great friend, currently residing in Texas.

Ken’s most recent enjoyable pastimes before his illness included recreational shooting, pier and open water fishing, feeding a few birds and squirrels who visited, cigar smoking and a bit of Irish whisky enjoyed while playing computer solitaire and visiting while enjoying the fresh air outdoors in his “Man Cave” we constructed between our two storage sheds!

We began our Central Coast journey by taking the month of January to come vacation each year. Then, Ken found the part-time job in SLO which became busier over time, so when we found a studio in a 4-plex in Cayucos, we jumped at the chance; a great upgrade from SLO Motel 6!

After 4 years, we had to relocate due to remodeling, so we found a house in Los Osos and two friend from the 4-plex moved with us! After another year, the owners came back, and so we moved again - this time to Atascadero, initially on Cayucos Ave. 😊 and again, one of our friends from the 4-plex moved with us to the new location.

Then, fortuitously and right in the middle of Covid, I saw an ad for Rancho del Bordo, SPC59, and the rest was history! A way to live affordably and own our own residence near the coast seemed miraculous!

So, we bought in late November, 2020, and moved in January, 2021. Slowly, over the next year or so, things began to open up gradually and we began to meet neighbors and attend a few events as they became available and our confidence level improved. That first year, we really enjoyed the Aqua Aerobics classes, especially on those days Ken wasn’t working and could participate, too.

And then, Life happened. In late summer/fall of 2022, after months of intermittent, frustrating, and vague symptoms which took time to understand or test, it was discovered by MRI, that Ken had a brain tumor. We were trying to get a more specific diagnosis and went to Stanford to see a specialist to see about treatment options. We were told that due to the location, and that there were actually 4 tumors, that surgery was not an option, or radiation either, due to the location and risks of incurring even more damage.

That was 5/01. While preparing to have a virtual anesthesia interview and another trip to Stanford in preparation for a brain biopsy, on 5/03, Ken suffered a serious, incapacitating hemorrhagic stroke at home caused by bleeding in/around the tumor.

We spent nearly two weeks in the Neuro ICU at Stanford, where intensive rehab was begun, but no other treatment was available. The brain biopsy was completed on 5/06, (but because of the bleeding, the results were delayed for several more weeks.) In the meantime, he was transferred to Arroyo Grande Acute Rehab where attempts at rehab (just to turn and pivot to a chair or bed with much assistance) continued for another 10-12 days, without appreciable results, although he gave tremendous effort in trying to improve enough so he could come home for care.

Ken was transferred to Danish Care Center on 6/06 for more rehab efforts and skilled nursing care. Then, Covid came to the Center for about 10 days and affected many patients, families, (Ken and me) and staff alike! After that, the routine returned gradually to normal.

On 8/23-24 I met with Hospice as the final diagnosis came back as Type 4, very aggressive, fast growing cancer, with no viable treatment options.

Ken’s family made a second trip to Danish Care to visit, 9/25 and his decline began to be apparent that day, a Sunday. It progressed over the next day, and Ken passed away, very peacefully with Tracy and me there with him on Tuesday, 8/27, at about 5:15pm. While heartbreaking, it was a huge relief and a great blessing that he would not have to suffer any longer.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Archie Grant Zachary, his mother, Norma Virginia (Younger) Zachary, brother, Dickie Zachary, a sister, Anna Sue Zachary, a sister, Betty Gunn, and niece,Tanya Flores.

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Dara, (Drusilla Malcolm-Zachary), Tracy Leandra Zachary - daughter, Donald Zachary - brother, Sharon Byus - sister, and Susie Graham - sister