Kenneth Robert Arney was born on the family homestead in the Rattlesnake Hills north of Prosser, Benton County, Washington June 23, 1921. He was the eighth (8th) child of Clarence Marion Arney and Hilga Augusta (Johnson) Arney.

He was an infant when he moved from the Rattlesnake
Homestead to Hemlock, Tillamook County, Oregon with his family in 1922. Ken attended grade school in Hemlock
before moving to Woodburn with his family in 1930. Kenneth continued grade school at Hall School, a one room school just north of Woodburn until he finished the 8th grade and graduated from Woodburn High School in 1939. He went on to attend Oregon State College for 3 years when his schooling was interrupted by World War II.

Kenneth served in the U.S. Army for 4 years achieving the rank of First Lieutenant. Upon his return he resumed his college education, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in Engineering from Oregon State College (Now known as Oregon State University).

He worked for the U.S. Forest Service in Baker for 14 years as a surveyor. He proudly told of the project of surveying the new road from Austin Junction to Baker, by way of Sumpter. This was his project. He also worked for the soil conservation service in The Dalles and LaGrande. Ken retired in 1983.

Ken was a member of the Baker Elks Lodge No 338 and the American Legion Post in Baker, where he was manager for about 6 years. He was also a member of the VFW Post in Baker.

Kenneth never married. He died June 20, 1984 at his home in Baker, Oregon. He was 62 years, 11 months and 27 days of age.

Survivors include brother Roy of Woodburn, sisters Agnes Fletcher of Tillamook, Grace Thompson of Seattle, Martha Thun of Woodburn and Doris Hughes of Seattle.

Memorial Services were held Thursday, June 28th at Langrell-Monroe Mortuary, Baker with family services Saturday June 30th at Cornwell Colonial Chapel in Woodburn. Interment is in Belle Passi Cemetery, Woodburn.

Biography by Janet Y. (Arney) Thiessen, Ken's niece.