Kenneth Winton Mayo, age 86, passed away on May 30, 2020 in Glendale, Arizona. Kenneth was born in Surgoinsville, Tennessee on May 16, 1934 to parents Lloyd and Annie Mayo. He moved to Phoenix, Arizona for health reasons when he was in his late teens to live with his aunt and uncle, Ellen and Roy Dale. The Dale family quickly became a surrogate family to him and treated him as one of their own. Soon after arriving in Phoenix, he met and married Carole Schmidt Mayo and they had three children.
Kenneth is survived by his wife Carole Mayo, son Mark Mayo, daughter Maryann Reed (CJ), and sister Virginia Jordan (Dale). Ken was a proud grandpa to Ashlie Mayo, Josh Reed, Jade Reed, and Vinnie Mayo. He was a proud great grandpa to Kaliann, John, Kelsey, Jaxson, Valerie, and Zoie. He is preceded in death by his son John, his brothers William, Lloyd, Francis, Howard, Tommy, Johnny, and sister Betty. He leaves behind numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews whom he adored.
Kenneth was born in rural Tennessee at the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains. He grew up with 6 brothers, 2 sisters, and too-many-to-count cousins. He went to school in a one-room schoolhouse, worked the family farm, taught himself how to play the guitar, and loved bluegrass music. That land held a special place in his heart as he would travel back “home” every summer to visit family and attend the annual reunion. If you spent anytime with Ken, you knew he was a proud Tennessean and a huge fan of Vols football and Lady Vols basketball.
After moving to Arizona, his first job was in the produce department at Central Market. He had a special talent of knowing how to pick the ripest watermelon. He was a route salesman for Oroweat Bread Company, then for Frito-Lay. The Frito-Lay truck was parked outside his house on 39th Ave. Mr. Mayo would always give out a smile, wave, and a bag of chips to the neighborhood kids. After retirement, Ken would ride his bicycle to stay healthy. He would be gone for hours, being late for supper, because he would be talking with friends all around the neighborhood.
Whether you knew him as dad, poppy, Mr. Ken, Kenny, Speedy, Slim, or Uncle Slim, the name he loved the most was Coach. Coach Mayo coached the major league Rangers for the Cactus Wren Ball Club in Phoenix. He coached his two sons, then continued to coach after they grew up. Being a positive, competitive, role model was one of his happiest memories.
Funeral service will be held at 10 AM on Wednesday, June 10, 2020 at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W Northern Ave, Glendale, AZ. He will be laid to rest at Resthaven Park Cemetery immediately following funeral.
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