Marlowe T. Ketcham

Marlowe Ketcham was born on October 5, 1927 to Pearl and Bessie Ketcham in Easton, Illinois. He was the youngest of four siblings (Juanita, Melvin, Ted) in the Ketcham family. Marlowe's early childhood was spent on a small farm in Bethany, Illinois. He grew up in the Depression and became a teenager at the beginning of WW II. He attended high school in Edwardsville, Illinois. In March of 1942 his life took the course that has brought everyone here to honor him. Marlowe, a sophomore at Edwardville High, was set up on a date with Betty Skelton who was visiting her high school friend Betty Baker. She claimed he didn't say a word all night but still sneaked a kiss at the door. Marlowe and Skelly (nicknamed because there were too many other Bettys in the school) and began their uninterrupted relationship 75 years ago. Marlowe joined the Army right out of high school and married Betty on July 6, 1946. The war was nearing its end and in 1947 daughter Nancy (deceased, 2007), one of the first baby-boomers, was born. Sons Steve and Rick were born in 1949 and 1950, completing the family. The family was very similar to the sitcom TV families of the 1950s, Marlowe worked and Betty ran the house. They supported all of their children's activities and the events they missed could be counted on one hand. Marlowe was devoted to his children, but his true devotion was to Betty. In 1969 after the three children had all had graduated from high school and were off to college, they decided to move to Florida. They described the following 25 Florida years as the best of their lives. They enjoyed the laid back lifestyle and took up boating to fully participate in it. As much as they loved Florida, their grandchildren were growing and in 1994 they moved to Colorado to watch six of their eight grandchildren grow up. Marlowe's life was forever changed in June of 2012 when Mom died in an automobile accident involving a texting teenage driver. He carried on but without the zest for life he enjoyed the previous 65 years. In spite of his loss he stilled managed to brighten the lives of family and friends with his sense of humor. Marlowe leaves behind eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and a legacy that lives on. Services for Marlowe will be held on Monday, May 8, 2017, at 1PM at Horan & McConaty 3101 S. Wadsworth Blvd. in Lakewood. Please share your condolences with his family by signing the guestbook below.