Kenneth James Covay, 71, passed from this world on Thursday evening, Sept. 3, 2015, at Summerlin Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. He was born in Moline, Ill., on April 30, 1944.
Ken grew up in Des Plaines, Ill., and was graduated from Northern Illinois University, where he majored in earth science. In the mid-1960s, Ken met his future wife Kathy while working summers at Lake Hotel in Yellowstone National Park. Shortly after marrying Kathy, Ken began his career with the U.S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division. During their 49 years together, Ken and Kathy lived in California, Colorado, Louisiana and finally Nevada. They resided in Nevada for the past 25 years.
Ken enjoyed music and the outdoors. He also greatly enjoyed his work dealing with surface water and water quality studies. Ken will be remembered affectionately by friends and family and will be missed.
Ken is survived by his son Jeff Covay, Jeff’s wife Elizabeth, and Walter Hofmann, Ken’s brother-in-law. Ken is also the proud grandfather of Lucy, Henry, and Thomas Covay. Ken was preceded in death by his wife Kathleen Covay, his parents Chester and Gladys Covay, and his youngest son Brian Covay. Graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m., at Palm Mortuary-Northwest, 6701 N. Jones Blvd., Las Vegas, Nev. Flowers may be sent to Palm Mortuary at the aforementioned address, or donations may be made to the Make-a-Wish Foundation or the M.D. Anderson Pediatric Cancer Foundation.
