Kenneth Coon

It is with a heavy heart that the family of Kenneth “Ken” Garfield Coon announces his peaceful passing on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Chinook Regional Hospital, at the age of 84 years.

Left to love and cherish his memory are his children, Ruby (Clark) Tailfeathers, Trudy Coon-Freeman, and Kenneth S. Coon (Pam); his grandchildren Jewel, Danielle, Skyler, and Craig; his great-grandchildren, Atticus, Scotty, Kenneth and Jory; his siblings, Wayne (Bev) Coon, Sandra, and Sonya (Wilf); his sisters-in-law, Marcy (Daniel) and Lydia (Casey); as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

Ken was predeceased by his parents; his wife, Thelma E. “Tiny” Grier of the Piikani First Nation; two younger siblings, Paul Coon and Penny Sue Coon; three brothers-in-law, Leonard Little Bear, Norman Grier, and Robert Manyfingers; two sisters-in-law, Ann (Grier) Manyfingers and Beverly (Grier) Little Bear; and his first wife, Doreen (Goodstriker) Little Shields, and his adopted son Marvin Coon (Goodstriker).

Ken was born June 16, 1938, to Kenneth E. Coon and Ada Jean Coon (nee Dugan), in Carnduff, Saskatchewan. He grew up on a farm and knew the meaning of hard work from a young age. He moved to Alberta in 1959 and worked on farms near the Blood Reserve. He married Doreen Goodstriker (1964-1974), adopted her son and together they had two daughters. He began working in the oil field industry, moving to various places in Alberta and Saskatchewan. With further technical training in the oil field industry, Ken was offered a job overseas. He and Doreen divorced amicably, and he got remarried to Tiny Grier (1975-2004) and they had their son Ken Jr.

During the years from 1975 to 1982, Ken worked in the Sahara Desert, with his family home base in a small village near Oran, Algeria, he then later worked in the Turkish desert, and the home base was in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. After retiring from the oilfield industry, he still worked various jobs like truck and bus driving. He was also an experienced carpenter, mechanic, excellent gardener, hunter, and all-round “MacGyver”. Ken will be remembered as a good-hearted, down-to-earth, type of guy, who was also very intelligent. He made friends everywhere he went in the world, which included at least 12 different countries. He loved the Blackfoot people and had many friends and relatives during his 60 years amongst them. He recently received a well-deserved Blackfoot name Siksikaikoan, meaning Blackfoot Man.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nursing staff at the Chinook Regional Hospital, for their care and compassion.

A Memorial Service was held at 11:00 A.M. on March 22, 2023, at Eden’s Funeral Home, 2424 5 Avenue, Fort Macleod, AB.

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