Kenneth Blue

Kenneth Joe Blue, of Bourbon, died at home in the early hours of the morning on Saturday, May 1 2021, surrounded by his wife and children.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene and Velma Blue, his father-in-law William Turner, an older brother and sister-in-law Perry & Judyee Blue, and a younger brother and sister-in-law Larry & Clarita Blue.

Besides his wife, Nova, he is survived by a son, John Blue and wife Christy, of Yukon, Oklahoma, a daughter Jodi Dutile of Nixa, MO, a son James and his wife Chantele of Raymondville, MO, his sister Joyce Bennet of Sullivan, his brother Jim Blue of Missoula, Montana, as well as his mother­ in-law Florence Turner.

Ken is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Dalton Dutile, son of Jodi; Erin, Matthew, Rebecca and Sara Blue, children of John and Christie Eli; and Isaac Blue, son of James and Chantele.

Ken was born on June 30, 1945 on the family farm outside of Newburg, MO. While growing up on the farm Ken learned to hunt, fish, bale hay, shoe horses, and operate farm equipment. He also learned mechanics, and welding. His early training on the farm helped him develop the ability to do just about anything. He even made his own tools if he needed a special tool to fit a certain situation.

Ken would often watch his father plow with a team of horses and after learning the illustration Jesus gave about a man that doesn’t look back once he puts his hand to a plow, Ken would think back on those days when he watched his father.

He attended the Newburg school system until the family moved to St. Louis in 1958. At the age of 17, he enrolled in the Navy until he was honorably discharged in 1966.

On May 3, 1969 Ken was united in marriage with the love of his life, Nova Turner of Smithton, MO.

After leaving the Navy he worked in St. Louis for the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, also known as the Frisco, where he was employed as a switchman.

Ken & Nova’s eldest son, John, was born in 1971, and the following year the family moved to Colorado where Ken worked for the Denver Rio Grande Western Railroad as an engineer. While in Colorado, he became father to a daughter, Jodi, and a son, James.

In Colorado Ken would work with his brother breaking and training horses. They would often invite the neighbors to bring their horses over and they would have informal neighborhood rodeos. Ken and his brother would go the mountains and cut corral poles for ranchers, spending a few nights in a tent, cooking over the campfire, just like real cowboys.

Ken moved the family back to Missouri in 1980. Over the years of living in Missouri, Ken had many occupations. He worked in construction for Howard Wissman, he worked at an oil pipe company in Union, MO as a truck driver and he worked with Paul Bruner for many years doing construction and remodeling. He also worked as a technician for the Bourbon RV Center. After retiring from Bourbon RV Center, he celebrated the pinnacle of his career when he and Nova were even employed briefly by Skweeky Kleen Windows.

While he was in the Navy, Ken developed the habit of carrying a Bible with him and would read it whenever he could. Thus, when he came in contact with Jehovah’s Witnesses, he readily accepted a Bible study. He took to heart the things he learned from the Bible and wanted to share these truths with the rest of his family, which was one of the main reasons he moved back to Missouri.

Ken was baptized on Dec 20, 1980 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He served as an elder in the Sullivan Cong for many years, and had the privilege of working in the Baptism Dept. at assemblies, baptizing others. It gave him great joy to be able to personally baptize his grandson, Dalton Dutile.

Ken also served for a while as a regular pioneer, or full-time minister of JW’s, devoting at least 70 hours per month to the ministry. He attended the Pioneer Service School in 2008.