Celebrating the Life of Patrick Timothy McKendry
Flipping through Pat’s black leather bible, the pages thin and well-thumbed, you will find only one passage that has been highlighted. Romans 12: 9-21. Reading through the verses, we quickly realize why it was important to Pat. It appeared to be the blueprint from which he lived his life.
Verses 9 and 10: “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.”
Patrick Timothy McKendry was part of an affectionate and honorable family, both the family he was born to, and the one he helped create. He was born on August 12, 1965, in Denver, Colorado to parents Joan and Don McKendry. He was the youngest of 5 children, joining older siblings Michelle, Russ, Steve and David. Pat graduated from Arvada High School in 1984, and joined the family company, McKendry Enterprises. They later formed Crown Mill and Casework, which specialized in custom home construction. Pat met his childhood sweetheart, Karyl Allen, in the youth group at Applewood Baptist Church in Wheatridge. Although they went to different high schools, they dated for 6 years before marrying on September 25, 1987. Pat continued to work in the family construction business while Karyl worked for Dr. Malcolm Strange, DDS as a pediatric dental assistant. They started their family in 1989 with the birth of their oldest son, Clancy Patrick. Their only daughter, Sadie Kay, was born December 4, 1990. Jesse Allen followed on September 1, 1994 and the family was completed with the arrival of their youngest, Timothy James on February 19, 1996.
Verses 11 and 12: “Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
Pat was a fervent worker. He was passionate and meticulous in his work as a builder, known for doing projects the right way, the first time. There was no task that was too small: he’d often be found fixing plumbing or pushing a broom. But there was also no task that was too big. When some people would feel overwhelmed with a job, he knew how to break it down into doable parts, and had total confidence that he could handle it. He worked together with his brother Steve for 24 1/2 years, building custom luxury homes, fine cabinetry, and remodeling jobs. Recently, Pat decided to start a construction business with his sons, and Tri-Mac Construction was born.
Verses 13 – 17: “Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.”
Pat was a faithful Christian and strove to live a life based on biblical principles. His faithfulness was evident in the leadership of his church, L2 Church. He served in many capacities: as an Elder, running the audio during services, leading worship, singing in the choir, and teaching children’s church for 9 years. He was also responsible for the remodeling and overall maintenance of the building itself. Pat was also a founding member of Habana Night, a men’s club that filled a niche. In addition to providing fellowship for regular church members, it drew community members in as well. With a heart for missions, he and Karyl, along with two of their children, Clancy and Sadie, joined Russ and Tracy, on a month-long mission trip to Africa, where they installed kitchens for the missionaries. Pat’s brother Russ McKendry, also lead pastor at church, has said that his absence will create an enormous void that will be extremely difficult to fill. He did so many things with such a servant’s heart; it will be months before those things will be fully noticed.
Verses 18 and 21: “If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ……. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
There was so much good in Pat’s life and he found many ways to be fully engaged. In his very limited free time, he was an avid outdoorsman and an accomplished athlete. He never met a sport he didn’t want to try, and he usually excelled at it. He was a skilled golfer, and enthusiastic softball player. He ran a marathon in Hawaii, not because he loved running (he didn’t) but because a friend’s running partner had backed out and needed a new running buddy. He loved to fish and ski. He also enjoyed all kinds of hunting, particularly bowhunting, often with his brothers, his children, and his friends.
He left many enduring memories of time spent with his wife, his children, and his large extended circle of family and friends. A few of the memories. . . .
• Dancing lessons, doing the night club two-step with Karyl, spinning his daughter, Sadie, across the dance floor.
• Spending time working on a truck (always Fords!) with Jesse, fixing, tuning, improving. Or even just working in general on any project.
• Helping coach James’ baseball team, spending hours tossing balls back and forth.
• Year after year of hunting trips with Clancy.
• Sharing thousands of cups of coffee with Russ and Tracy across their kitchen table. And the times when they moved on from coffee to mimosas.
• Using his excellent dry walling skills helping Sadie smooth icing on a cake.
• Men’s softball on Thursday nights – the F-5’s-- with Clancy and a group of good friends.
• Family skiing trips to Copper Mountain;
• Spending time with many of the young men he mentored through sports, community projects and just plain caring – all leading by example.
• Taking family cruises to the Eastern Caribbean with Grammy and Papa.
• Many Elder meetings at church where his simple, but wise, counsel was given.
• Surviving a 3 day fishing trip to New Mexico with his brother Steve when they ate only Little Debbie Swiss Cakes and Mtn. Dew.
• Always being willing to help do odd jobs for people who were less skilled; always out of the goodness of his heart.
• One of his nieces remembers Pat’s great voice. It seemed like whenever he spoke, he always seemed to be laughing.
• A dimpled grin and eyes sparkling with fun (or mischief). Having the good nature to actually thank Shelley when all she had to serve him for dinner was chicken and dill pickles.
• Taking a crabbing trip with the Burke’s off the Oregon Coast, bringing home over 100 Dungeness crab and having a big crab feast.
• The time Pat ran over his sister Michelle’s vacuum cleaner cord and ruined it and cried. He was only 14 years old but he kept that same tender heart and conscience till the day God brought him home.
• Pat’s love of games. Playing Pictionary, the teams were always “guys against the girls.” Pat always loving the chance to score would say with each roll “is it ALL PLAY?!, we gotta score!”
• Being a mentor to younger men, some of them half his age. Teaching them how to become a richer man of God during mentorship studies. One of these young men remarked that even though he was not really investing his hopes in Pat, he appreciated having Pat invest his hopes in him, treating him not only as a brother in Christ, but like a son.
• When anyone around Pat was faced with a problem, his first piece of advice was “Get creative. Figure it out.”
A memorial service for Pat will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, October 9 at L2 Church, 1477 Columbine, Denver, CO 80206. A reception will follow at the church.
The family has requested that remembrances be made to the Patrick McKendry Memorial Fund at any 1st Bank location.
You Might Be Pat McKendry if . . . . .
You hide the good food and snacks from the kids, but are able to retrieve it without giving away your hiding spaces.
You do a little jig when leaving the table, emphasized with a fart.
You had basket shooting competitions with tin foil from the baked potatoes.
You are the most competitive person alive.
You are frequently heard to say “What are YOU doing?”
You start every search with “Who took my? or SOMEBODY did . . . .
You are upset with someone and they give you a valid excuse and you reply with “shoot.”
You give someone else grief for farting in public but laugh hysterically when you do it.
You can fall asleep in any place, in any position, during any movie or sporting event. But when the channel gets changed, awake instantly and declare “I was watching that!”
You are willing to take on every niece and nephew in a game of beer pong and beat them all.
You can wear a pink paisley shirt and still intimidate your son’s friends.
You can wear a pink paisley shirt and your daughter’s friends develop a crush.
You wear work boots and long pants every day even if it is 105 degrees.
You answer any request for help with “I think I can help you with that.”
You have high expectations of everyone.
You are an overgrown child, not afraid to show silliness, play with reckless abandon.
You can reproduce the smell of an egg exactly while eating an egg.
You could coach or ref any game better than the official.
You have the prettiest ice blue eyes.
You get more attention from the waiters than your wife does.
Every dish has a special “Pat” ingredient.
You do something ornery and just smile with a cheesy grin.
You think stripping shingles off a roof is women’s work.
You are a fashionista – not afraid to wear flowers.
You can be bribed into any chore with packs of gum.
Occasionally, you lock the windows in the car before you fart.
Your discerning palate will prefer Taco Bell on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Wendy’s on
Tuesday and Thursday.
You have a way of talking people into doing things beyond their better judgment. Like sneaking up on a moose. Or a buffalo. Just to take a picture.
You look at the person driving next to you when you pass them and start laughing, and occasionally you’d give a scrub-scrub-scrub.
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