Kenneth Edward Novy

Kenneth Edward Novy, age 67, of Perry, formerly of Guthrie, OK passed away on Friday, March 29, 2019 in Perry, with his loved ones at his side. A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, April 6, 2019 at Dighton Marler Funeral Home Chapel in Perry. Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Perry, OK.

Ken was born in Enid, Ok to Edward Lee and Henrietta Angeline (Severin) Novy on June 24, 1951. Ken grew up on the family farm between Covington and Garber, attended Garber schools and graduated in 1969. While in high school, Ken was a member of That Garber Band, FFA, and played football. He attended O.T. Autry Vo-Tech his senior year, where his passion for computers started. He also played the trumpet in his dad’s polka band for a short time. He joined the Army in April of 1970 and served as a SPEC 4 in Vietnam from March of 1971 to January of 1972, receiving the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device. He remained in the Army Reserve until April of 1976. He attended Central State University, now known as the University of Central Oklahoma, for two years majoring in computer science. He married Patricia Soulek on November 20, 1976, in Perry, Oklahoma. Together they have one daughter, Anitra.

Ken worked as a computer systems programmer/analyst for Fred Jones Manufacturing, the State of Oklahoma, and Lockheed Martin at Tinker AFB until retiring in 2008. He cooked competition chili with three buddies from Pawnee for 15 years, making family vacations attending cookoffs in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado. He was an Oklahoma State Champion cook, and Great Pepper (president) of the Heart of Oklahoma Chili Heads (HOOCH) Pod, which he helped form and name. 　He was named Chili Appreciation Society International Great Pepper of the year in 1985. He was a long-time motorcycle enthusiast and current member of the Noble County Independent Bikers Club. He worked on the Camp Tan Da Ko Renovation Project, and recently joined the Model T Club. Ken had a passion for astronomy and freely shared his telescope with others. He always had projects to work on and loved spending time with his grandchildren, planting and harvesting the vegetable garden, building bird houses, and camping and fishing in Colorado.

Surviving are his wife of 42 years, Patricia, daughter Anitra, grandchildren Kaplan and Willow, sisters Carolyn Todd of McLoud and Arlene Novy Bernard of San Antonio, aunt Rosella House and husband Hershel of Hinton, uncle Henry Severin and wife Cecilia of Garber, numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents Edward Howard and Bessie Novy and Albert and Bessie Severin, and brother in-law Ron Todd.

Memorial contributions can be made in his name to Karman Legacy Hospice of Stillwater, c/o Dighton Marler Funeral Home 203 E. Fir, Perry, Oklahoma 73077.

Condolences may be sent to the family via an online guestbook at www.dightonmarelrperry.com.