Ken Akers

Ken Akers
Ken Akers, a dear friend and talented writer, passed away suddenly at his home in Charlotte on June 1, 2011. He had written his own obituary, which he had given to a close friend for safe keeping. His words are written below.
'Ken Akers kicked the bucket on Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at his home in Charlotte, N.C. He was old. So old he remembered black and white television, gas for 10 cents a gallon and Mickey Mantle's rookie season.
'He wasn't doing anything particularly strenuous - or creative - when he left this earth to be reunited with his cat, Iris, and meet the Almighty. Evidently, it just was his time.
'Ken was predeceased by his father, Rudolph, who died in 1992 and his mother, Mercedes, who died in 1989.
'Akers was a hopeless romantic and a hapless husband. He was married twice. Neither marriage produced any children or any particularly fond memories. A curious man in his old age, Akers presided over a dusty home filled with neatly arranged books, awards for his occasionally coherent writing and a disconnected TV.
'During his working career, Akers sold shoes and insurance, was Mr. Music on Romper Room and worked at a bank. After he retired the first time in 1997, he started his own communications company. Its most notable achievement was that it remained solvent until the end.
'Akers was raised a Catholic, but soon after he reached the age of reason, he excommunicated himself. While somewhat believing in 'someone or something that somehow started everything moving and kept it all more or less on track,' Akers did not attend church in his later years. He contemplated Buddhism but, with his bad knees, couldn't kneel long enough to satisfy the meditation requirement.
'Donations in his memory may be made to Alzheimer's, cancer research or to your favorite disease.
'Akers will be cremated and his cremains sprinkled into Lake Erie near Kelleys Island.
'Akers was a good listener and an OK dancer. He always wanted to be taller. And when he got older, he wished he had his red hair back.
'He just tried to be a nice guy.'
Ken left behind his sisters, Janet (Larry) Annett and their children David and Elizabeth, and Carol (Al) Lloyd and their children Christopher and Ben. He also leaves many friends in the theatre and production community.
Ken spent many hours volunteering with Collaborative Arts in putting on Shakespeare on the Green, and with the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce in staging the Annual Meeting. Ken's dear cat, Juliet, has been lovingly adopted by friends.
A short memorial service will be held 2:00pm, Sunday, June 12, 2011 at North Carolina Dance Theatre, 701 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28202 (parking in the rear) with a reception to follow at Alexander Michael's, 401 W. 9th St., Charlotte, NC 28202, from 3pm to 5pm.