Mr. Kenneth Ray Hare

Ken lived a colorful and adventuresome life. He spent his younger years in Red River County in East Tx. After WW2, the family relocated to the Dallas area. Ken “Hot Rod Hare” to classmates, graduated from Wilmer Hutchins HS in 1955. He worked as a union carpenter in the family sheetrock business after graduation. In 1956, he began his career at General Motors in Arlington. In 1957 Ken fulfilled his obligation to the draft and served 8 yrs in the Army Reserve.

Ken met Patsy Blanchard, his future wife, in Gatesville, Tx., while at Fort Hood.

Ken started their family in Euless, Tx., where he became the father of two children: Sherri and Brent.

Oh, did I forget he loved cars! He had a passion for cars and the intrigue of how engines worked at an early age. He also loved speed, which led him to racing semi professionally at Green Valley Raceway, NRH, TX. Ken could also be seen at many tracks throughout Texas, Oklahoma and many others spanning to Florida. Ken built and drove his first Funny Car in the late 1960’s, the infancy of the new sport class. He retired from racing after a crash that he walked away from at Houston Raceway in 1973.

The man could remember every car he ever owned and how much he paid for it. His storytelling always seemed to start with what he was driving at the time.

Ken retired from GM after 31 yrs in 1987 at the age of 52. Ken and retirement never went together!

He started a commercial tractor mowing business in 1987, picking up a contract for properties from the failed S&L collapse. (Google it) The contract was to mow 2,500 acres a month across 5 counties. He completed these properties each month by himself. A few years passed before hiring a fellow GM retiree for help. For many years Ken contracted for many cities and developers in the area. We finally convinced him to stop when he was 88.

He loved the feeling of seeing what he had accomplished. It reminded him of sheet-rocking a house, when you left, it looked like a house. He didn’t feel like he accomplished anything he could see at the factory.

He maintained his 5 acres using his zero turn mower until his passing.

In addition, Ken had invested in rental properties starting in 1971, accumulating many properties in the area.

He was a Dallas Cowboys diehard fan. His best weekends were filled with watching Drag Racing. A family friend took him to the NHRA track in Pomona , Ca., twice to watch the Winter Nationals. He could also be seen for years attending the Carroll Dragons on Friday nights. (Go Bell!)

He couldn’t wait for football to start.

He loved to laugh and hang out with friends at his shop. In his later years he watched and rewatched every episode of Gunsmoke. Also, the daily lunch routine was the highlight of the day. It really wasn’t the food , but the time he spent together with friends, wait help and family. (Bronco’s),(Feedstore BBQ)

I’m sure everyone who knew him will have their own memories and stories to tell. The conversation normally starts with, “I remember when your dad did (or said) this.” I’m rarely surprised by what is said or where the story goes. We will be telling Ken stories for many years, and begin to laugh.

He will be missed by many.

We couldn’t have been blessed with a better father, grandfather, teacher, or friend.

Ken is preceded in death by his father Clyde Hare, stepmother Annie Hare, mother Katherine Hare, and son in law Ralph Williams.

He is survived by daughter Sherri Williams, son Brent Hare and wife Mary, four grandchildren Stephen Williams and wife Flora, Thomas Williams, Veronica Petrovich and husband Nick, and Phoenix Hare.

Visitation will be held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors, 523 S Main St, Grapevine, TX 76051, on August 3, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

A funeral will be held at J.E. Foust & Son Funeral Directors on August 4, 2026, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm.

Committal will take place at Bluebonnet Hills Memorial Park, 5725 Colleyville Blvd, Colleyville, TX 76034, on August 4, 2026, from 2:00 pm to 2:30 pm.