Birth date: Oct 6, 1939 Death date: Nov 15, 2010
J. Colby Kegley age 71, of Ames, died Monday Nov 15, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. A celebration of life service will be 1:30 Saturday, January 29, 2011 at United Church of Christ -Congregational in Ames, Iowa. Colby was Read Obituary
Your friend Philip Cox died in June. There will be a memorial service for him at the Unitarian Church on July 20. I remember meeting him with you in December of 2009 at Bethany Manor for his 90th birthday party. I'm glad I got to meet him. Reading his obituary, I see how much in music, theater and game playing in common along with math. I'm sure you two had fun together.
There is time to remember Colby at Christmas especially with all the music around. Yesterday I saw Mike Golemo conduct TubaChristmas at Ames 1st Methodist. At Wheatsfield I heard Colby's friend Tom Russell with some members of Strong Like Bear. They were replaced by my friend Reggie Greenlaw and his close musical companion Curt Snook. Reggie's hammer dulcimer music always brings me near the region where I am sure Colby lives now and always has lived. Colby started piano and organ lessons when he was four. He was playing in a church at age 13. So really, he spent his life in music. Music, nature and the people he loved who loved him were his links to a high power.
Matt passed his orals for his MFA in integrated arts after Thanksgiving. Colby would have been proud. We think of him often. I have windchimes for his grave at Ames Cemetary and will put them there before Christmas.
Goodbye to 2010
I just spoke with Erica Fuchs who plays violin along with her Dad Ron for Central Iowa Symphony. Colby would have been playing with CIS this December. Before the concert, the director Eric, told everyone that Colby had died suddenly in November. The piano remained unplayed on the stage in his honor.
The newest photograph you can see when you click on Media is of Colby's Wildflower Prairie, taken late this Spring the first year the yard prairie bloomed after being seeded Fall of 2009. We cared for it and enjoyed it in all it's changes till November.
I was so sorry to hear of Colby's passing. The last time I saw him he visited me in NC while passing through on a hiking tour. As someone who loved the outdoors, I know that Colby spent his last day enjoying life. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
Today,I have been listening to a podcast of Colby playing Glory to God at Unity Church on April 15, 2008, one week after his wife Judy died. I appreciate Mike Golemo's and Burton Hable's tributes to Colby. I was with Colby when he and Burton performed the Ewazen on March 29, 2009. This is some of the most beautiful music I ever heard Colby play.
Colby assisted with our youth group at the Congregational Church and his music was a delight. I knew him as a teenager and as an adult. I always enjoyed seeing him around town throughout the years. He was unique and talented-the best combination. I was sorry to see had passed; but know he enjoyed life and contributed much to others enjoyment of it.
