Kenneth Ray Peters Jr

Some called him…. Kenneth

Some called him…. Ken

Some called him…. Butch

Some called him…. KP

Some called him… Son

Some called him…. Elder

Some called him…. Friend

Some called him…. Cuz

Some called him…. Peters

Some called him…. Uncle

Some called him…. Brother Peters

Some called him…. Kenny

One called him …. Husband

I’m not sure what you called him

But me?.... I just called him my Daddy

Daddy, I don’t know where to even start… you have been dead one whole year. I haven’t talked to you in a year and two weeks.

This year has passed quite quickly with a lot happening but it has been one of the hardest of my short life, my only wish is that you were around to be there and take part. In the past year we had two crazy storms… lol I think you would have liked the second one and would have been right there with Lydia and me making crazy raw footage videos, improperly clothes for the weather. I got into my first major accident days before my birthday when some idiot ran me off the road. I was so thankful we all walked away ok. I couldn’t let mom bury anyone else. Speaking of my birthday… anyone that knows me knows I go HARD with excitement and anticipation when it’s my birthday. And in true KP form I was excited until like a week before when I realized this would be my first fatherless birthday. January 19^th at 11: 59pm I was fine… But I swear January 20^th at 12:00 am I lost it and started crying. Soon after Jonny called to wish me a happy birthday and I put on a brave front, He asked one simple question “ what do u want for your bday”. I started crying all over again and hung up. Why? Cuz all I wanted for my birthday was you… and no one can get that for me…

I got good and pissed off when mom let Mr. Adams sell your van and then I found out later. So what if I never wanted to get in that van after I broke down in my explorer in the middle 495 during rush hour in true Peters fashion. You would have been the first person I called. But I was reduced to finding other means. I got into that beat up van… bungee cords for my seat belt, a door so dented up I could see the ground. I could just see you in that van picking me up, headed home after a long day of work. The state of that van had you all over it. But it wasn’t you in that drivers seat and it never would be. And I never wanted to sit in that van again.

I bought my first car a couple of weeks ago. I had to lay Betsy to rest. I got anther SUV, you know I’m of the strong opinion that “cars are for girls” Mom gave me extra money to help me get it. Why? Because that’s what you would have done for me.

I remember our last Sabbath together as a family. We were at Camp Bethel because it brings mom so much joy and we were talking to some other family… and you said, “ Kanetha is in charge, she runs the house… she is like the neck that turns the head”. Mom didn’t like that AT ALL lol. But I agreed with you that I did run things (even if its fanciful thinking… kinda…sorta…cuz we both know I do run things to a point).

That same day at Camp Bethel we were sitting there eating and you called over to one of the pastors “this is your new conference auditor”. I was sitting across from you and I gave you one of my looks and I said in a annoyed tone, “daddy why did you do that?!” I don’t like attention or people in my business and you said to me in somewhat a quiet/saddish (yes I made that word up) tone, “because I’m proud of your Kanetha” You don’t know how I have kept and treasured that one statement. Even with all my faults, issues, that fact that you probably knew more about my life then I knew you did, and even though I don’t live right, you were still proud of ME. If someone every questioned that I swear I will cuss them clean out. I don’t care who they are.

Anyway daddy…. I just wanna say thank you. I had 25 great years with you in my life. You taught me… maybe not everything…but a hell of a lot. You taught me how to hide contraband, especially from mom lol. (I wonder if you liked hiding cookies and movies from Lyd and me, we were good at what we did and always found them). You taught me to swing a hammer, use an air gun, or circular saw. Climb a roof, lay tile or hang drywall. I remember whenever you had new workers… the men would always be surprised that I was out there. They would try to be all gentlemanly like…. I remember once this guy said to I guess his nephew “go help her” you were like leave her alone she got that, go do what you are supposed to. Or the time you and I were working on building a shed and when it came time to left the walls some dude wanted to help cuz he didn’t think I could/ should do it. And you were like me and my daughter got this… go lift that wall Kanetha. And that’s exactly what I did… (dad I miss construction and working with you, getting dirty and the general challenge). Thank you for the many experience I have faced with you, it made me learn to roll with the punches and life’s unexpected situations. Not every chick would feel perfectly save and fine driving an audi with two busted you doors half falling off. Thank you for just being one of the greatest men I know.

I started writing with in tears and ended it with a smile on my face. Even though I tried not to think of you for real. I have many great memories that I will cherish always. And whenever I hear some story about you and something you did to touch someone’s life I’m just so proud of you and the fact that you were MY dad.

I just wanna live to be half the women measured to the man you were.

Kanetha Rayan Peters

Live. Laugh. Smile. Enjoy