Roll Call Tribute

Kenneth Gayle "Ken" Killion 

December 6, 1933 - July 13, 2023 

Kenneth Gayle Killion, the son of J.D. and Alaska (Little) Killion was born in Hico, Texas on December 6, 1933 and passed away in Aurora, Nebraska on July 13th, 2023, at the age of 89.

Ken was raised in Texas, the oldest of four children. After graduation from high school he attended Texas A & M University graduating in 1955 with a degree in Agriculture. After graduation, he taught Vocational Agriculture for a year, was an Assistant County Agent for two years and managed a Hereford Ranch for two years before moving to Foraker, Oklahoma where he managed a bull test station. It was there that Standard Chemical hired him as Division Manager in Oklahoma. In 1967, Standard Chemical moved him to Central Nebraska to be a Division Manager. Ken sold feed and was a nutritionist until he retired after 30 years of service. During this time he was united in marriage to Jennifer Weedin on June 5, 1981 and remained in the Aurora, NE area. He was also a partner in the Jensen-Killion fertilizer business for many years.

Ken was a member of the United Methodist Church, Shriner's, Masonic Lodge AM & FM in Aurora and the Order of Eastern Star. He served on several committees at church and ushered for many years, until his health started to fail. He was Master of Lodge & Worthy Patron of O.E.S. many times.

Ken was a long-time manager of the Hamilton County Fair and secretary of the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers. He was a member of the Hamilton County Agricultural Society for many years. Ken served as President of the Fair Board for 11 years and Manager for 15 years. He was the Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Nebraska Association of Fair Managers for 11 years and served as director of Membership Committee for the International Association of Fairs and Expositions in 1999-2000. Ken wrote and presented cowboy poetry that was published in the Fairs and Expositions Magazine in the section called Ken's Korner.

He was preceded in death by his parents, JD and Alaska Killion, sister Joann Fortenberry, and one brother Ronald Killion, his father and mother-in-law Harlan (Bud) and Letabelle Weedin; sister-in-law Paula Weedin Utley and nephew, Matthew Weedin.

Those who remain to cherish his memory are his wife, Jennifer of Aurora; 3 children, Karen Killion of Navasota Texas, Kenny of Columbus, NE and Amy (Mike) O'Daniel of Elkhorn, NE; 7 grandchildren, Katlynn (Allen) Osborn, Kody Killion, Logan Killion, and Landon (Kylie) Killion, Jenna (Kyle) King, Trey (Hannah) O'Daniel, and Sydney (Dillan) Olson and 4 great-grandchildren; Jaxton and Asher Osborn, and Connor and Callan King; Lori Richter mother of Katlynn, Kody, Logan, and Landon. He is also survived by his brother Bobby (Butch) Killion and his wife Karen of Texas and many nieces and nephews and many, many friends.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. Friday, July 21 at the Aurora United Methodist Church, 1104 A Street, Aurora. Rev. Michelle Reed will officiate. Burial will be in the Aurora Cemetery following the service. Visitation will be from 5 - 7 P.M. on Thursday, July 20 at the church. Higby-McQuiston Mortuary is coordinating the arrangements. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family at the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.