Kenneth Dane Hightower

Ken, Kenny, Kenneth, 68, of Oak Cliff, was born Saturday January 7, 1956, to Karle Dane Hightower and Gwyn Arden Williams Hightower at Methodist Hospital on Colorado Boulevard in beautiful Oak Cliff.

Kenny was given his first toy set of drums from Santa Christmas 1959.  His drums gave our moms pots and pans a much-needed rest.  The following Christmas Santa brought him his first three-piece Gene Krupa Slingerland drum and cymbal set. He was so disappointed when a brat child came to our house on Scotland Drive and broke one of his Krupa sticks. Can not recall his name, but he never returned to visit again.  Over the years Ken added extra drums, cymbals attached to his base drum, on legs, cowbells, more drums, cymbals, sticks and Krupa brushes.

Our mother toted drum sets to W. W. Bushman Elementary for school programs, talent shows and anywhere he was asked to play, our 1963 Bel Air station wagon logged many miles for our vacations to Canada, all the eastern states and who could forget our trips to Sylvester Georgia to visit our dads Navy buddy Bob & Jean Bell, Robin and Freddie. We learned one summer, Howard Johnson's vegetable of the day, every day, was English peas....... the size of chinaberries and were awful.

Our family were members of Lambuth Methodist and later Wheatland Methodist Church in Oak Cliff.  Baptized in Wheatland Methodist church the summer of 1968 after we became members of the congregation.  We are still friends with members of both congregations we grew up with.

Growing up in Oak Cliff whether living at 2714 Scotland Drive or 2216 Cedar Valley Lane was magical.  We made lifelong friends from both neighborhoods. Since our parents were self-employed, household duties, cooking, and yard work fell on us. When we moved in 1966 to attend Adelle Turner, Atwell Jr. High, and Carter High School.  Kenneth was notorious in guilting me into doing his chores so he could go out and play by saying " if you do not do my chores, I am not coming to your funeral".  Thank goodness for Steve Grist, who would always help with those chores.  We spent hours outside walking and riding bicycles. Walking and riding miles a day to so many places our folks knew nothing about. Walking the new sewer lines under Highway 67 during construction to 7-11 for Slurpee’s, crawdad fishing, and rushing back to the house to cook dinner before our folks returned from work.  Hurriedly we cleaned up the kitchen, started the dishwasher and hit the streets again with friends until streetlights came on or our mom would flicker the front porch lights.  We both missed those days and talked about them often and how fortunate we were to grow up in a special time and place without worrying about cellphones for all our shenanigans. Arguing like cats and dogs when little but once teens, covered for each other daily.

Kenney's first band "The Paisleys" performed in Martha Crowder's garage, he, Steve Cramer, and George Savins played until the wee hours of 10:00pm and closed with Good Night Ladies. Our neighborhood turned out to listen and dance.  Kenneth was in multiple bands and played backup drums when needed.  His Wipeout Solo was always unforgettable.  Kenneth and our mom played by ear; he was so disappointed to not be able to be in the Atwell marching band since he was unable to read music. He really liked the uniforms.

During high school Kenneth worked for our parents’ business Banner T.V. Supply. He later started Banner Productions supplying security, setting up lights and equipment for himself and other bands. Practice sessions were plentiful on Colorado Boulevard after closing daily.

Kenneth met and married Debra Lynn Vinson on July 19, 1990.  Son Austin was born March 6, 1996.  Debra passed away April 7, 2000, while carrying baby Bailey.  Reconnecting with his junior high soulmate Karen Carter McKay again in 2009 after a Carter High School reunion that Karen did not attend. Laurie Mullan Hawkins suggested she go with her to Los Lupes, Kenneth would enjoy seeing her again.  The rest is history.

His Banner Production days and manager of Southern Knights were stories people hung on the edges of seats for.  He completed his musical career with the Kessler.  He loved the musicians, people, bands, customers, and employees. He was able to sit in once with Hal Ketchum at the Kessler.

Oak Cliff was his home, he helped with the Mardis Gras parades, coat, and blanket drive for the homeless, collected food, and went to Houston during one of the Hurricane’s cooking and serving first responders and volunteers.

The stories he could tell were unforgettable and priceless, they will be remembered long after he is gone.

Preceded in death by his wife Debra, baby daughter Bailey and favorite nephew Christopher Pritchett. Survivors include his ride or die buds from 1966 Steve Grist, and Willie Higginbotham, son Austin of Henderson TX, soulmate and partner Karen Carter McKay of Oak Cliff, sister Karla Dickey-Robbins (Steven) DeSoto,TX., his favorite niece Stacie Hurst (Benjamin) of League City, TX. great nephews and nieces Jacob, Alex, Hamilton, Abigail, Scarlett Anne, Virginia.  Long time family and friends David Burkley, Lisa Wigand Burt, Paul Barnes, Phil Jones and a host of cousins, extended family, and many, many, friends, including Karen’s children and grandchildren Shelly DeLisle, Hannah, Brooklyn, Julia of Plano and Britni and Mark Simmons of Tulsa, Bruce Carter of Oak Cliff.

Celebration of Life  Friday March 15, 2024 2:00 P.M.

Jack B. Swaim American Legion Post 424   3940 S. Ledbetter Drive, Dallas, TX. 75232